Gee (left) holding the police report with Yong.
KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor’s Monday’s announcement that dine-ins for restaurants and eateries among others will be allowed under phase one of the state’s recovery plan beginning Tuesday was unfortunately marred by fake news, said Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) vice president Gee Tien Siong.
Gee said the good intentions of the government to revive the food business was tainted by fake news from unscrupulous people that health authorities were issuing summonses around the city to restaurant operators for allowing dine-ins.
“This rumour that enforcement officers had issued compounds to operators for allowing dine-ins had caused chaos to the people. Food operators who were busy planning to start their business had to hastily re-tidy, withdraw their tables and chairs, ask customers to immediately leave their premises after offering takeaways,” said Gee.
“Interestingly, this fake news was circulating virally and significantly in Kota Kinabalu,” he added.
Gee and Yong Yit Jee, who is SAPP supreme councillor and a lawyer together lodged a police report on this fake news at the Kota Kinabalu District Police Headquarters on Tuesday, asking police intervention on this matter.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali confirmed that no compound notices were issued for eating in the premises on Tuesday. He said the police were waiting for the National Security Council’s standard operating procedures. For now, the police will follow the Chief Minister’s announcement.
Meanwhile, Gee slammed Sabah DAP scretary-general Chan Foong Hin for not trying to stop the rumours.
Instead, he ‘stepped up’ and openly spread the rumours further by stating that enforcement officers went everywhere, claiming that SOPs had not been issued and warning coffee shops and food vendors not to open businesses,” he said.