Penang shuts down Sri Aman market after social distancing ignored, no hand sanitisers

GEORGE TOWN: State government comes down hard on market patrons who ignored social distancing and shuts down Sri Aman market complex for three days from Saturday (March 28).

State Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the market section of the Sri Aman Complex has been ordered to shut by the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) for not abiding with the movement control order (MCO).

"The order to shut was issued Saturday and came into effect immediately.

"It is the first market in Penang that has been ordered to close by MBPP for not following the MCO.

"The market did not follow the social distancing rule.

"They also did not control the number of people allowed in at one go. There was also no hand sanitiser provided for customers," he said during a press conference held at the market premises in Relau Sunday (March 29).

Jagdeep said the action was taken to ensure the safety of the public during the Covid-19 outbreak.

"The food complex attached to the market has been allowed to continue operating as long as they abide by the MCO.

"We understand that closing the market is an unpopular move and it is not MBPP's intention to burden the public or the stall owners but these steps are needed," he said.