‘Eateries stay busy, no spike in food delivery except when haze closed schools’

Mohd Fadli did more food deliveries when the schools in Johor closed due to the severe haze.

CONTRARY to what one might think, food delivery has not increased despite the haze, as people are still eating out.

Delivery rider Fitri Zulkeferie had thought there would be a spike in orders with the haze being so bad.

But the number of orders remained the same despite the haze lasting over three months, said the 24-year-old when met in downtown Johor Baru.

Fitri has been doing deliveries for the past five years.

“My busy hours are from 11am to 3pm, delivering food to offices, and between 5pm and 9pm, to homes,’’ he said.

Fellow delivery rider Mohd Fadli Abdullah said he delivered more food to homes when the schools closed from Oct 8 to 23 due to the severe haze.

Fitri had expected a spike in orders amid the bad haze.

“Parents with school-going children were working while their children stayed home,’’ he surmised.

Another food delivery rider Zaim Zulkifli, 27, said the eateries in downtown Johor Baru were still buzzing with crowds, especially office workers having their lunch.

He said the majority of Malay­sians were getting used to the haze situation.

“Not many people are walking down the streets wearing face masks,” Zaim noted.

He observed that the eateries were operating as usual, compared to during the movement control order (MCO) period when only deliveries were allowed.

“We made good income during the MCO,’’ he added.