KOTA KINABALU: Labuan businesses should be allowed to open, while other activities including classes should be allowed to resume with more than 80% of its people vaccinated against Covid-19 and cases down to about 10 per day over the past week.

       Labuan Chinese Chamber of Commerce president Datuk Wong Kii Yii said the island has been suffering for too long, in terms of its economy.

       “Our cases have been low, with us having recorded seven new cases on July 30, nine on July 31, five on Aug 1 and seven on Aug 2, we should be allowed more leniency so that life can return to at least some form of normalcy,” he said.

       He added that herd immunity has also been achieved on the island.

       “I hope there will be more sectors allowed to open so that our economy can restart,” Wong said.

       He added that with Labuan included in the third phase of the National Recovery Plan starting today, he hoped dine-ins with a strict standard operating procedure (SOP) and barbershop operations would be allowed.

       “We also hope to see more leniency in allowing visitors to Labuan from mainland Sabah, and other states,” he said.

       However, Wong called on security officials including airport, jetty and immigration officers to conduct stringent checks on visitors, and to make sure those who enter are fully vaccinated and do not show any signs of having contracted Covid-19.

       “We do not want anyone to bring in new Covid-19 cases to Labuan as we try to revive our economy and social lives here,” he added.