Melaka eateries to be allowed to open until 2am

MELAKA: Eateries in Melaka will be allowed to operate up to 2am from Tuesday (Dec 15).

Several lawmakers posted on Facebook Monday night (Dec 14) that the state government would make an official announcement on the issue on Tuesday.

The plight of several eatery owners from Taman Melaka Raya and Kota Laksamana were brought to the attention of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali (pic) after the state legislative assembly sitting on Friday (Dec 11).

The owners said that their businesses had been badly hit due to the shorter operation hours.

They appealed to the state government to allow them to operate up to 2am after the Health Ministry relaxed the closing time for restaurants and 24-hour convenience stores nationwide from midnight to 2am since Dec 7 during the recovery MCO.

However, Melaka had stuck to the midnight time limit, even after the Federal Government lifted the conditional MCO for the state on Nov 21.

Kota Laksamana assemblyman Low Chee Leong said he had received a message from Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali on Monday telling him that eateries would be allowed to operate up to 2am from Tuesday.

"I want to thank the Chief Minister for considering the plight of the eatery owners," he said.

The state government is also expected to announce the new operation hours for 24-hours convenience stores.