Terengganu may enter Phase Four of NRP, Sabah could allow travel within zones in Oct 2021

These moves will be dependant on the states' full vaccination rate according to Chief Minister of Terengganu, Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, and Sabah's State Local Government and Housing Minister Masidi Manjun.

Malaysia's Chief Minister of Terengganu, Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, has shared that the state is expected to shift to Phase Four of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) by end of October latest. This forecast, he said, was based on the indicators and current developments in Terengganu, such as the percentage of fully-vaccinated adults at 82.7%, while those vaccinated with the first dose is at more than 90%.

According to Bernama's report, Minister Ahmad said: "God willing, there will be a special meeting of the Pandemic Special Committee at the federal level tomorrow, to be chaired by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob. This matter (shifting to Phase Four) will also be scrutinised during the meeting. Based on the current situation, we expect to be able to move to the next phase at the latest in a month."

In separate news, Sabah is expected to open up for inter-district travel between zones by 1 October, said State Local Government and Housing Minister Masidi Manjun. Per a Malaymail report, this is as long as the fully-vaccinated rate in each district hits the target of 60%, as all districts would have to reach the same target "in order for the government to lift the current inter-district travel ban."

For those who are unaware, the zoning system was introduced in March 2021, and divides Sabah into six zones to spur economic activities including domestic tourism. In detail:

• Zone 1: Kota Kinabalu, Kota Belud, Ranau, Tuaran, Penampang, Putatan, and Papar;
• Zone 2: Beaufort, Kuala Penyu, and Sipitang;
• Zone 3: Kudat, Kota Marudu, and Pitas;
• Zone 4: Sandakan, Beluran, Kinabatangan, and Tongod;
• Zone 5: Tawau, Semporna, Lahad Datu, Kunak, and Kalabakan, and
• Zone 6: Keningau, Tambunan, and Tenom.

Based on Malaymail's report, Minister Masidi explained how districts that have yet to achieve a fully-vaccinated rate of 60% will be excluded from inter-district travels. Which according to the COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Access Assurance Committee (JKJAV), 10 districts in Sabah have yet to achieve the target. Data revealed that:

• Kinabatangan, Telupid, Tongod, and Sandakan have not reached 50%.
• Tawau, Semporna, Papar, Nabawan, Keningau, and Kunak are within the 50% range.

As a whole, as of 27 September, Sabah’s fully-vaccinated rate for adults is at 59.1%, while vaccinated with one-dose for adults is at 71.1%. It is one of the states with the lowest vaccination rate.

ALSO READ: Permission for interstate travel expected to come through in Malaysia in three weeks: Hishammudin

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