Foot reflexology centres headed for 'unhappy ending' if not allowed to operate

MELAKA: A tourism body here is appealing to the state government to consider allowing foot reflexology centres to reopen as activities return to almost normal here on Wednesday (May 6).

Melaka Tourism Business Club (MTBC) deputy president Dennis Samford said the state should consider the plight of foot reflexology operators affected by the slowdown in business.

"We are not talking about body massages or 'happy endings' but centres offering health therapies," he said on Wednesday (May 5).

The state government had allowed almost 80 sectors to start operations during conditional movement control order (MCO).

Traditional medicine and physiotherapy centres are among those given the green light.

Samford said the operators of foot reflexology faced a tough time and should be allowed to operate too.

He said such centres at Taman Melaka Raya and Jonker Street offered purely foot reflexology services.

"The health authorities could compel these operators to abide by the safety procedures by only taking in clients through appointments," he said.

Samford said many of these reflexology centres were on the brink of winding-up if they continued to be closed.

Meanwhile, a circular by Melaka deputy state secretary Salhah Salleh stated that pre-schools would be allowed to open, except for those in enhanced MCO areas.

It also mentioned that most retail outlets, including furniture shops, could now open and would have to observe the stipulated hours.

Checks at shopping complexes also showed that almost all were brimming with shoppers.