Putrajaya extends TEMCO in four Sabah districts; EMCO in force in seven new areas there

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 — The government has decided to enforce a further enhanced movement control order (EMCO) in seven localities in Sabah following rising number of Covid-19 cases there.

Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the seven localities involved six in Semporna and one in Kunak, both districts which are already under a targeted enhanced MCO (TEMCO).

“The localities in Semporna involve Kampung Bangau Bangau, Kampung Panji, Kampung Air, Kampung Selamat, Kampung Simunul, Kampung Pinggir Bakau, while the one locality in Kunak is Kampung Pangkalan,” the defence minister said in his daily press conference broadcast live from his home where he is undergoing self-quarantine during the Covid-19 outbreak nationwide.

The EMCO in these seven areas will be enforced from October 11 until 25 and will affect a total of 35,643 residents, he said.

For the seven areas that will be placed under the EMCO, Ismail said the regulations only permit movement for cases of emergencies, with the economic, social and cultural sectors all closed during the lockdown period.

“The Health Ministry will be conducting targeted screenings to test all the residents involved in these areas.

“Essential supplies and food will be distributed by the state government and coordinated by the State Disaster Operations and Control Centre,” he said.

EMCO in Kedah prison

Ismail said the Pokok Sena prison in Kedah is the latest to be placed under the EMCO, following a spike in Covid-19 infections there.

The EMCO for the prison will come into effect at midnight on Sunday and last until October  24. A total of 3,262 inmates and 587 prison staff will be affected.

Ismail also announced the government’s decision to extend the TEMCO in Semporna, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Tawau, for another two weeks until October 26, with the lockdown in the Tawau Prison and its Taman Ehsan Quarters also extended until October 25.

Beefing up Sabah’s borders

Additional standard operating procedures to tighten border control in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (EssZone) were announced by Ismail today, on top of additional manpower and assets he said would be deployed there soon.

The new regulations will see small and coastal boats allowed to move within the zone to purchase essentials from 6am to 2pm only, while fishing boats and those registered with the Fisheries Department will be allowed movement during the hours between 6am and 6pm.

“However, such permission is subject to the approval of the related district police chief, and they must use permit jetties only,” he said.

He added that Non-Conventional Ships arriving in the EssZone from countries such as the Philippines and Indonesia will be barred from docking, barter trading, or carrying out transshipments.