Rosnani Tangah
MIRI: The government’s decision to allow MASwings to operate between Sabah and Sarawak and opening the Sabah border for business and tourism is much welcomed by the community here.
A trader, Rosnani Tangah, said the announcement had brought much relief to those living in Lawas because they would be able to buy groceries and cooking ingredients in Sipitang or Beaufort in Sabah which are just about one to two hours’ drive away.
Despite that, she said they would have to abide by the Health Ministry’s standard operating procedure and maintaining personal hygiene and cleanliness when crossing the border to avoid the spread of Covid-19 or creating a new cluster.
“It’s a good move by the Federal and Sabah governments to open up the border and allow flights between Sabah and Sarawak for government servants and private sector workers,” Rosnani said yesterday.
According to Rosnani, life has been hard for the business sector in Lawas the last three months, especially food traders.
He said Lawas had been the transit point for visitors from Sabah and other divisions in Sarawak going to Sabah.
“I hope with the opening of the border and flights, the economic sector will slowly pick up and come back to normal. We are also hoping Brunei will open its border for Sarawakians and Sabahans as it will be a big impact for the community in Borneo,” she added.
Sharing the same view was Zara Nawi from Ulu Merapok, Lawas, who said most of the border community in Merapok would cross over to Sindumin in Sabah daily before the Covic-19 pandemic and vice versa as they have family members and relatives on both sides of the border.
But with the Movement Control Order (MCO) and Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) all trading and business activities between Merapok and Sendumin had to stop, she added.
Due to the movement restriction she said her son had been stranded in Limbang for more than three months, and hoped with resumption of MASwings flights her son would be able to come back to Lawas.
An offshore worker, Faizal Mohamad, lauded the move to allow MASwings to fly between Sabah and Sarawak.
He said offshore workers used to go to Kota Kinabalu from Miri using commercial flights before going to offshore in Sabah waters.
“It’s a good move by the Sabah government and MASwings to ensure the oil and gas sector get back to its normal operation,” he said.
On Tuesday, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said all Malaysians, including Sabahans, entering the state would not have to undergo quarantine.
But they are required to undergo the Covid-19 test three days before coming into the state either by air, sea or land.
Yesterday, Sabah State secretary Datuk Safar Untong clarified that Sabah’s move to do away with the quarantine requirement is only for Malaysians working in the state.
“It is only for government servants and private sector workers from Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Labuan,” he said.