The Sabah Government has to act at a breakneck speed in these crucial times to lend a helping hand to the people, especially the real estate and construction sectors, and small and medium enterprise (SME).

Datuk Chua Soon Ping, president of Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (SHAREDA) said the Movement Control Order (MCO) has caused a lot of financial damage to many businesses and individuals. 

SHAREDA: Spike in Logistic Cost Will Burden House Prices

Continuing, he said, “The state must intervene to help businesses survive so that jobs can be secured. If we don’t act fast to sustain the businesses, we risk the collapse of our economy and the consequences will be unimaginable.” The Prime Minister has announced Phase One of the National Recovery Plan, instead of extending FMCO.

The association hoped and pleaded that the government would waive parking fees at a car park that is managed by local authorities, and fees for trading license application and renewals. This is one way that would help to ease people’s financial hardships and could guarantee a long-lasting for local businesses.

At the same time, Datuk Chua mentioned that the only way to ultimately open up the economy is mass immunity. He advised that the government needs to pick up the speed of the vaccination programme through launching more vaccination centres. “The ‘Public-Private Partnership Covid-19 Industry Immunisation Programme’ (PIKAS) has received tremendous response in the peninsula, and it should be rolled out quickly in Sabah too. We suggest the government seriously considers allowing businesses to operate two weeks after their staff have received the first dose of vaccination.”