MCO 2.0 better than full lockdown, say retailers

PETALING JAYA: The impact on businesses with the implementation of the movement control order (MCO) will be adverse but the retail and restaurant sectors say the government has little choice but to enforce it.

Malaysia Retailers Association (MRA) vice-president Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin said apart from Sabah, the economic impact on Penang, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Labuan, Melaka and Johor would be huge due to their high GDP value.

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“But it is better to endure the pain and suffer a while now so that we do not end up like other countries where the virus has gone out of hand, leading to a 100% lockdown, ” he said when contacted.

The managing director of the Mydin hypermarket chain said the government’s latest plan of action was to balance lives and livelihoods, noting that the government allowed five essential sectors that drove the economy to operate, unlike the first MCO last March when only essential services were permitted.

Malaysian Indian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association president Datuk Jawahar Ali Taib Khan urged the government to consider permitting dine-in for two per table in the MCO states.

Malaysia Singapore Coffeeshop Proprietors’ General Association president Datuk Ho Su Mong said with only takeouts allowed, businesses would suffer by at least 20%.

He appealed to the government to subsidise the rentals of small businesses, like in Hong Kong and Japan.