KOTA KINABALU: Most tourism-related businesses in Sabah are choosing to wait for the latest SOP from the state government although the National Security Council has allowed more activities and freedoms for fully vaccinated people.

       According to the Prime Minister, those who are fully vaccinated, and in states under Phases Two and Three of the National Recovery Plan (NRP), can indulge in domestic tourism, dine-in and inter-district travel effective yesterday.

       However, the Sabah Police Commissioner said yesterday that inter-district travel was still not allowed because the state government did not make any announcement on this.

       “We still have our border roadblocks as usual and will wait for these couple of days for the latest SOP,” he said.

       Malaysian Association of Hotels Sabah and Labuan Chapter acting chairman Hafizan Wong explained that while dine-in could continue for even those who were not vaccinated, they would not allow leisure hotel stays yet.

       Sabah has been allowing dine-in for over a month even before the state came under Phase Two of the NRP.

       “Stay-in guests are also not allowed to use facilities such as pools and gyms for now. We have to wait for the latest SOP from the state,” said Wong.

       However, association members are looking forward to reopening for domestic travellers, especially those who are fully vaccinated.

       A survey around the city found hotels and resorts will open up their facilities such as pools and gyms after receiving the state-level SOP.

       Workers at these establishments said their stay-in guests were those on work or official matters.

       Sabah Parks director Dr Maklarin Lakim said while its parks and islands had been reopened for quite some time, overnight stays were still not allowed.

       “We have a total of 24 getaway sites, including islands and nine parks statewide, but we cannot allow overnight stays yet because our operations are under state jurisdiction. We have to wait for the state to announce its SOP first,” he said.

       Meanwhile, some of the Sabahans were more interested in inter-district travel.

       Ester Chin from Penampang has not seen her youngest son since May when MCO 3.0 was announced.

       “My son was at his grandmother’s place in another district, and I did not have time to fetch him back here due to work and other commitments. So, I hope we would be allowed inter-district travel to see him,” she said.

       Lesaya Motiun, who works in Kota Kinabalu, has been separated from her two children for over three months as they are at her parents’ village home.

       “I don’t care about domestic tourism, I just need to be allowed to cross districts so that I can reunite with my children,” she said.