S’wak supermarkets, eateries to open 7am-7pm

KUCHING: All markets, coffeeshops and eateries in the state can only open from 7am to 7pm tomorrow onwards, says the state disaster management committee.

Private clinics, fuel stations and 24-hour convenience stores must also follow these hours, which will be enforced until March 31.

“This is necessary to stop public movement which is still heavy in certain places, ” the committee said in a statement yesterday.

But it said the new hours would not affect medical personnel and those involved in current enforcement operations, such as police, military and immigration officers.

The committee also said supermarkets, hypermarkets, markets, pharmacies and clinics were required to practise social distancing.

“Police will check on implementation at random, ” it said, adding that business owners were advised to do temperature checks on customers and provide hand sanitiser.

Negri Sembilan will also only allow eateries like hawkers and food trucks to open from 7am to 8pm.Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said all supermarkets, grocery shops, provision and convenience stores could only open during the said hours.

He said all petrol stations and their kiosks could open an hour earlier, but must also close by 8pm.

“Wet markets will only be allowed to open from 6am to noon, ” he said in a statement.

The new operating hours, he said, would stay in force until March 31.

The state banned night and farmers’ markets via the movement control order (MCO) on March 18.

Aminuddin said he was glad to note a drop in the state’s number of new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, though he did not provide figures.

“My thanks goes to the frontline personnel who have done all they can to contain the virus, ” he said.

His administration, he said, would also disburse the RM100,000 allocation it received from the National Disaster Management Agency to all districts as soon as possible.“Another RM100,000 will be distributed to those involved in helping us with the outbreak, ” he said.

Aminuddin also said RM3mil would also be set aside to buy household items for lower income groups affected by the outbreak.

The state government also agreed to extend the deadline to pay quit rent from May 31 to July 31.