No lockdown in 3 Sabah villages

By Manzaidi Mohd Amin

KUALA LUMPUR – The government denied viral social media news on a lockdown at three villages in Semporna, Sabah.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster), Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that the fake news was purportedly spread to incite public fear. He rubbished claims on the lockdown in Kampung Air, Kampung Bangau-Bangau and Kampung Simunul in Semporna.

“Information on the lockdown or Movement Control Order (MCO) at the three villages was not true.

“I did not announce that. The person who would be making the announcement on MCO and SOP is me, through the weekly news conference.

“If there is no news conference, the matter is not true. Usually, we implement MCO for 14 days, not 4 days. This is fake news,” he said at a news conference on Covid-19 today.

A message went was distributed through WhatsApp alleging that three villages in Semporna have been put under lockdown today.

The message claimed that the three villages near the Kampung Selamat Cluster have been put under lockdown since yesterday until this Thursday.

Meanwhile, Ismail also advised everyone to always practice safe social distance such ash not going to go to crowded place.

“Self-control is important. The concept of we take care of ourselves. My advice is, obey the SOP issued by the government, avoid crowded places, touching.

“We can be infected through handshakes. Avoid shaking hands. Wear face mask. This advice is not only for the people in Sabah. People in Sarawak and the Peninsular must practice this too as Covid-19 can happen anywhere,” he said.

Commenting on a video of a group of men acting to put on pink bracelet, he said that the Covid-19 issues cannot be taken as a joke.

Indirectly, he said that those men have committed two offences. First of all, if they are truly under quarantine and they went out with the pink bracelet, actions can be taken against them.

Secondly, if the actors were not under quarantine, they can also be taken actions for misusing tools belonging to the Ministry of Health.

“All of us needs to be responsible. We cannot make this into a joke. This involves lives. We cannot make fun of it as it has huge impact. Covid-19 is a serious pandemic.

“However, let’s allow the police to take actions,” he said.

At the same time, he also announced the operating hours for sports premises to be extended until 2.00 am from the previous 12.00 am. –MalaysiaGazette

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