This comes after senior minister for security Ismail Sabri Yaakob said all states must obey the federal government’s SOPs which do not allow dine-ins at eateries.
Salleh, who is the Usukan assemblyman, said the country is actually under the national recovery plan rather than the movement control order (MCO).
“We should be focusing on Sabah’s recovery, with SOPs fitted according to the current situation,” he said on Facebook today.
“I fully support the move by the chief minister and state government to implement relaxed SOPs for Sabah. I believe the state government has considered all factors in this matter. Therefore, the federal government must respect the decision and give its support to Sabah.”
Hajiji had said Sabah would implement phase one from yesterday by maintaining most of the SOPs.
He said several social and economic activities would be allowed to operate, including dining-in at restaurants, food stalls and outlets in hotel premises; roadside stalls selling vegetables, fish and fruits; as well as barber shops.
But yesterday, Ismail reminded states nationwide that they had to abide by regulations fixed by the National Security Council (MKN).
He said there must be standard SOPs for the entire nation and that states should not make up their own rules which differed from MKN’s decision.
The Sabah Bersatu leadership also threw its support behind Hajiji.
Its state liaison secretary, Mohamed Razali Razi, said more freedom to operate will ease the burden for those in the economic sector.
“The SOPs must be more flexible, particularly for states that have fewer infections,” he said in a statement.
“The intention and effort by the chief minister is fair and proper because he has seen that the rakyat in the state have done their best to abide by the SOPs.
“The decision also clearly shows that the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (administration) has its own direction after taking into consideration the grouses of the people, particularly over their welfare and livelihood, after being faced with a prolonged MCO.”