FCAS supports decision to maintain MCO
KOTA KINABALU: The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) has expressed its support for the State Government’s decision to stick to the phase four of the Movement Control Order (MCO) that will end on May 12.
Its president, Tan Sri T.C Goh, said the people of Sabah should respect and accept the State Government’s decision not to follow the conditional MCO (CMCO) that was announced by the prime minister on May 1, which allows almost all economic sectors and business activities to resume operations on May 4, subject to conditions and standard operating procedure (SOP).
“We believe such a decision was made after careful consideration in the people’s best interest i.e. to protect them from the persisting Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
Goh thus urged the people of Sabah to continue to give their full support and cooperation to the State Government in this regards, and to fully abide by all the restrictions and requirements under phase four of the MCO.
He was responding to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal’s announcement made on May 3 that Sabah would maintain the restrictions put in place in phase four of the MCO.
Goh who is also the president of The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) acknowledged that due to Sabah’s unique autonomous position in the Federation of Malaysia, it has the right to opt for the MCO that was originally announced by the prime minister on April 23.
“That means Sabah is not going to observe the CMCO but to maintain the original MCO until May 12,” he said.
In a statement issued on Monday, Goh also noted that besides Sabah, other states like Sarawak, Selangor, Kelantan, Kedah, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan and Penang too, have declared that they were not going to follow Putrajaya’s decision to impose the CMCO.
Meanwhile, Goh also supported the circular issued by State Secretary Datuk Safar Untong, in which he instructed the staff of state civil service to continue to work from home and observe the MCO until it expires on May 12, in line with the State Government’s decision not to follow the Federal government’s version of CMCO.
He added that while the Covid19 situation in Sabah has gradually stabilized in the past few days, with no new cases reported, and the total number of cases was maintained at 315 cases, the State Government nonetheless should continue to remain vigilant against the deadly coronavirus.
“After deducting the public holiday and the weekly holidays, there’s only a few more days to go before the MCO ends on May 12. Hence, let’s give our support and cooperation to the State Government to observe the MCO.
“Until and unless a vaccine is available for Covid-19, the best deterrent against the pandemic is to stay at home. There’s nothing more important than protecting ourselves and our loved ones. May God bless Sabah, so that we can defeat this pandemic soon,” he concluded.