KUCHING: Members of the public welcome the resumption of interstate travel and relaxation in the standard operating procedures (SOPs) under the National Recovery Plan (NRP).
Nur Afiqah Hassim, 31, a Sarawakian working in Peninsular Malaysia, said she had long been waiting for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s announcement on interstate travel.
She was relieved to be able to visit her parents in Kuching without having to undergo the quarantine process.
“In my opinion, the relaxation for interstate travel is timely given the current situation as our country has reached 90 percent vaccination rate for its adult population.
“Despite this, the people must continue to comply with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and conduct the Covid-19 self-test before embarking on a journey to a destination. This is important to prevent the transmission of the virus.
“Even though the number of Covid-19 cases is still high, it is fortunate that most positive individuals are in Categories 1 to 3 where symptoms can still be controlled through immediate preventative actions and measures,” she added.
Meanwhile, Zainudin Abu Talip, a community activist in Sibu, also welcomed the relaxation in the SOPs and the reopening of many economic sectors as the state was in Phase 3 of the NRP.
The 33-year-old said many traders had been affected economically due to the previous restrictions and the SOPs.
“With the relaxation of the SOPs, many traders will be able to operate as usual and their businesses can slowly improve,” said Zainudin whose family’s food business was also affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
