KOTA KINABALU: The Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) has issued a closing order notice to the Sabah Parks on September 24, following the detection of a COVID-19 patient who climbed Mount Kinabalu on September 13-14.
As such, the Taman Kinabalu headquarters, Kundasang would be closed for 14 days starting from September 25 to October 8, announced Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment permanent secretary Dr Jamili Nais in statement.
During this period, the park and climbing activities will not be open to visitors and climbers.
The park has set up the COVID-19 control centre to conduct the COVID-19 screening test together with MOH on those having close contact with the mountain guides, climbers and the staff involved in the climbing activities, he said.
A thorough disinfection operation was carried out on tourist facilities along the climbing route to Mount Kinabalu including at Panalaban Station during the closing period, he added.
Earlier, he said due to increase of COVID-19 infection in the east coast, especially in Tawau and Semporna which is now a red zone, the Sabah Parks have carried out disinfection operations in three parks namely: Taman Bukit Tawau (Tawau), Tun Sakaran Marine Park (Semporna) and Sipadan Island Park (Semporna) for seven days starting from September 24 to 30.
“These three parks will not be open to visitors and the public during disinfection operations,” Dr Jamili stated.
Other parks that are free from COVID-19 disease such as Taman Tunku Abdul Rahman (Kota Kinabalu), Taman Pulau Penyu (Sandakan), Taman Banjaran Crocker (Keningau, Tambunan, Tenom), Taman Pulau Tiga (Kuala Penyu) and Taman Tun Mustapha (Kudat) are still open to the public.
Similarly, he said other Kinabalu Park stations such as Poring Hot Springs (Ranau), Serinsim sub-station (Kota Marudu), Sayap sub-station (Kota Belud), Monggis sub-station (Ranau) and Nalapak sub-station (Kota Marudu) is free from COVID-19 disease and is open to the public.
