MKN to discuss need for quarantine centre in Sabah's Pulau Omadal tomorrow

KUALA LUMPUR: The National Security Council (MKN) will discuss the need for a new quarantine centre in Pulau Omadal in Semporna, Sabah at a special meeting tomorrow, said Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said this was because the island is situated about 18 kilometres away from the Semporna town and could only be accessed by boat.

"The Sabah MKN can advise the meeting tomorrow whether there is a suitable place and if there are sufficient personnel,” he said at a press conference on Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) updates here today.

He said the MKN would also discuss the issue of undocumented individuals undergoing COVID-19 screening as this was not only the responsibility of the Ministry of Health (MOH) but also under the jurisdiction of the Immigration Department.

Ismail Sabri said the MKN would also discuss details of the standard operating procedure (SOP) for the operation of childcare centres (taska) during the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) in the Klang Valley for a win-win situation for entrepreneurs and working parents.

"We will continue to discuss with the MOH how to help working parents… but every decision must be approved by the MOH.

"We understand this issue very well, that is why we began by implementing the work-from-home system to assist parents who had no helpers to care for their children as all the taska were closed,” he said.

On preparations to face the possibility of floods in the east coast due to the monsoon season, Ismail Sabri said the MKN would study in detail the SOP involving the management of flood victims at relief centres to avoid the risk of COVID-19 infection.

"We understand that in the process of evacuating flood victims to relief centres, the victims will have to sleep in tents, on the floor in the same enclosed area and even share toilets,” he said.

He explained that the SOP would also include how to handle the disabled (OKU), senior citizens and children as evacuation would involve having close contact with them.

He added that the movement and involvement of the relevant parties, such as uniformed bodies including non-governmental organisations (NGOs), would also be taken into account.

-- BERNAMA