ALL necessary actions have been taken to ensure that traders and market-goers at the Jelutong market in Penang comply with the standard operation procedure (SOP).
Batu Lanchang assemblyman Ong Ah Teong said among the measures implemented was the reduction in the number of stalls from 260 to 120 stalls with the businesses taking turns to open on alternate days.
“Not a single stall will occupy centre lane. This should allow market-goers ample space to move around and also ensure full compliance of the SOP.
“Along Lorong Ipoh, we will relocate two vegetable stalls which are usually popular with visitors. They will be moved to the junction of Lorong Ipoh and Jalan Penaga, where there is more space, ” he told reporters after checking the market yesterday.
On Sunday, the Apollo morning market in Jalan Raja Uda, Butterworth, was ordered to close for seven days for breaching the SOP.
Ong said some of the stalls at the Jelutong market would also be shifted to make more space for market-goers and also easier for the authorities to control the crowd.
“The police told us they will be sending two policemen here each day from 7am until the market closes to monitor SOP adherence.
“We urge the traders as well as the public to fully cooperate with us in this matter, ” he added.
Jelutong MP RSN Rayer, who was present, appealed to the traders who were asked to relocate within the market to comply.
“The police suggested that certain stalls be moved to a new location within the mark to ensure that physical distancing can be maintained.
“If everybody does not cooperate, we stand to lose out if the market is closed down, ” he said.
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