What conflict arose between Sabah and the NSC over lockdown rules?

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Sabah's Lockdown Rule Deviations Sparked Conflict with National Security Council Directives

A conflict emerged between the Sabah state government and the National Security Council (NSC) regarding differing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for Covid-19 lockdown measures. Specifically, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor announced that certain economic and social activities, including dine-in services at food outlets and some sports, would resume in the state. This move contradicted the national lockdown directives set by the NSC, which had prohibited dine-in services and maintained strict limitations on economic and social activities.
Sabah Announced Resumption of Dine-in Services and Other Activities

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor had declared that the state would permit the resumption of various economic and social activities. These included allowing dine-in services at food establishments and the recommencement of certain sports and recreational pursuits such as golf, fishing, and cycling. This announcement was made with the intention of easing restrictions within Sabah.
Defence Minister Emphasized Uniform National SOPs

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob clarified that states were expected to adhere to a uniform set of SOPs established by the NSC for the entire nation. He explicitly stated that states should not implement their own differing SOPs, as this could undermine national efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19. While states could impose stricter measures, they were not permitted to relax existing national guidelines.
Confusion and Enforcement Actions Followed Sabah's Announcement

The divergence in SOPs created confusion on the ground, particularly for food businesses. Following Sabah's announcement, several coffee shops in areas like Lintas, Kepayan, and Penampang began offering dine-in services. However, these establishments were subsequently instructed by patrolling Health officials to cease operations, highlighting the enforcement of the national, more restrictive, guidelines.
National Guidelines Bar Dine-in Services

The national guidelines from the NSC, as reiterated by Minister Ismail Sabri, stipulated that food outlets could extend their operating hours from 6am to 10pm. However, dine-in services remained prohibited and were only slated to be allowed under Phase Three of the National Recovery Plan. This restriction was a key point of contention with Sabah's decision to permit dine-in earlier.

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What conflict arose between Sabah and the NSC over lockdown rules?

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