KOTA KINABALU: The Sandakan Municipal Council has allowed dining-in at eateries, making it the first local authority in the state to do so.
It is officially following the Chief Minister’s announcement on allowing dining-in at eateries despite no SOPs having been released.
Its president, Wong Foo Tin, was reported to have said that all restaurants and food stalls in the district will be allowed to accept dine-in customers starting Saturday.
He said the decision was made in view of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor’s announcement earlier this week.
Wong said only two persons per table are allowed with 50% capacity at the premises. Operating hours will start from 6am till 8pm and all existing Covid-19 prevention-related SOPs such as scanning MySejahtera, temperature checks and social distancing must be observed.
He advised restaurants and the public to strictly follow the SOPs fixed by health authorities, such as checking temperature and scanning the MySejahtera app before entering the premises.
Hajiji had announced on Monday that several social and economic activities would be allowed in the state, including dining-in at restaurants, hotels and other eateries, while hair salons and stalls selling vegetables, fish and fruits by the roadside could also reopen the next day (June 29).
Eateries then started to serve dine-in customers the following day but the absence of a revised SOP and rumours of operators being fined, forced many to return to serving takeaways only.
Meanwhile, most eateries in other parts of the state are still adopting a wait-and-see approach as they await the Federal Government’s decision to relax SOP.
Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had said that all states should not have their own set of SOPs.
He announced on Saturday that Sabah was not among the five states allowed to make the transition to Phase Two of the National Recovery Plan from July 5.
Meanwhile, Warisan has prepared to team of experienced lawyers to fend off dine-in compounds, with regards to the recent SOP ruckus.
Its vice president, Datuk Junz Wong on Saturday urged coffee shop and eatery owners not to he afraid to open their eateries and allow dine-ins.
“Follow the old SOP, until the new SOP is announced.
“Since the Chief Minister’s announcement was not been withdrawn, it is applicable,” he said in a statement on Saturday.
He said Sabahans who are summoned for allowing dine-ins or dining-in is free to contact him.
“Warisan has a team of experienced lawyers on standby, to provide free legal services. We will take legal action by counter-suing those that abuse power or bully you.”