KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Hj Noor fired a stern warning to officers on the ground at all districts throughout the state who have been slow or failed to deliver much needed food aid to the people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
He has directed the State Secretary to closely monitor the distribution process to ensure the government’s food basket reach all recipients as intended and in time.
“I will get regular updates to ensure that this is done,’ he added.
The Chief Minister said this at the special State Security Committee meeting attended by 5 the Infantry Division Commander, Major General Datuk Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan, Eastern Fleet Commander, Syed Zahrul Putra Syed Abdullah, Sabah Police Commissioner, Datuk Hazani Ghazali, ESSCom Commander, Datuk Ahmad Fuad Othman and Sabah Special Branch Chief, Mohd Salleh Yahya.
Also in attendance were Minister of Local Government & Housing, Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, State Secretary, Datuk Seri Safar Untong, Federal Secretary Sabah Datuk Samsuni Mohd Nor and Sabah Health Director, Datuk Christina Rundi.
The special meeting convened here today to discuss the current Covid-19 situation in Sabah and the ongoing efforts to contain the pandemic spread as well as the strategy and direction including challenges faced. Datuk Christina and Datuk Safar presented the Sabah Health Department and State Government’s overview respectively.
Datuk Seri Hajiji praised all security agencies for successfully enforcing security at the state’s borders but reminded that measures need to be tightened via the Task Force Ops Benteng to ensure no intrusion of illegal foreigners who has the potential to make this pandemic worse.
The joint security forces saw to it that all Non-Conventional Ships coming into Malaysian waters to and fro Indonesia and the Philippines has been prohibited.
Paying tribute all frontliners for their sacrifices, Datuk Seri Hajiji said overall the country has managed the pandemic well and he wishes to see this continued cooperation between state and federal authorities to handle the situation in Sabah.
On CMCO and EMCO in Sabah, the Chief Minister said to date 22 localities throughout the state has been placed under EMCO but reiterated that while this is is unavoidable the state government understands the plight of many in the business sectors who have suffered losses.
“We will look at the situation with the view to ease the movement control order, so businesses can open up again,” he said.-pr/BNN
