PETALING JAYA: Industries Unite MCO2.0, a group of 52 trade associations representing about one million small and medium enterprises (SMEs), have put up giant billboards to educate the public on the need to comply with the movement control order.
The colourful billboards with the Covid-19 standard operating procedure (SOP) can be seen at two locations, at Jalan Loke Yew and Bukit Kiara in Kuala Lumpur.
Group coordinator Datuk Irwin Cheong said businesses can only stay open if people followed the SOP strictly.
“We see the SOP being adhered to in confined locations such as malls and shopping complexes, but the SOP also needs to be observed when we are on the streets, sidewalks, parks and open spaces, especially on social distancing.
“While business picked up a little prior to the Chinese New Year when people came out to buy festive items, the visits are still low as public confidence needs to be restored in order to see a big change in the retail sector, ” he said.
Cheong said more billboards would also be put up across the nation with support from the billboard owners of Malaysia.
“The billboard owners, some who are also part of our group, understand that if we do not bring this message across clearly, the whole business community will suffer.
“Many of the trade associations are pooling their funds to assist in raising public awareness on the need to conform to the SOP as they fear if there is another wave, it will be their deathblow, ” he said.
Malaysian Retail Chain Association, also part of Industries Unite MCO2.0, said that while business for retail chains has started to pick up, consumers were still treading cautiously.
Its president Shirley Tay said customers were also still being careful on their spending, although she feels that it might be too early to gauge as the relaxed SOP had only been in place for a few days now.
“We are hopeful that consumers will quickly return to their usual spending habits.
“There should be clarity and uniformity on the SOP across the board – whether with the public, the government or the enforcement authorities – so that they are all conversant with the SOP.
Tay said the problems that most micro and smaller retailers were facing were insufficient cash flow and high overheads, especially rent.
“These sectors need a blanket loan moratorium with no interest. More wage subsidies and stimulus packages would help.
“We hope the government will give rental subsidies to landlords so that landlords can in turn pass such subsidies to their tenants as it is a chain effect, ” she said.
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