Finding the right fit: Taranjeet Kaur (left) helping her daughter Bevi Kaur choosing face masks at a shop in Kuala Lumpur. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
PETALING JAYA: There has been no significant drop in face mask sales despite the government lifting its mandatory use in indoor public spaces last week, say retailers.
Caring Pharmacy procurement head Foo Fung Jiun said wearing masks has become a habit.
“It’s only that many have started switching from KF94 or KN95 masks to cheaper four-ply medical masks,” he said.
Foo added that the pandemic was a turning point, where the public started wearing face masks more regularly after realising the benefits.
“The humid weather was one of the biggest obstacles for Malaysians to wear face masks when they were unwell prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“However, the pandemic has made us realise how important face masks are in minimising the spread of a contagious disease,” he added.
Pharmacist-in-charge at AA Pharmacy at SS15, Ong Ru Shan, also said the recent loosening of restrictions has not affected sales.
“So far, customers are still buying surgical face masks. Perhaps we will see more of an effect in a month,” she said.
A face mask store operator at Lalaport shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, known only as Zul, said he observed fewer buyers in the weekend following the announcement.
“Usually on previous weekends, I would see a lot of people coming to buy masks.
“But since the announcement earlier last week, fewer people were here today,” he said when met at the My Mask Hub store here yesterday.
Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) president Amrahi Buang said that any decrease in sales is to be expected, depending on how the public reacts to the more relaxed mask ruling.
“Based on feedback from society members, sales are still stable and not affected by the recent announcement. We do expect it to decline after some time,” he told The Star, adding that the people are also concerned about other infectious diseases such as influenza.
On hand disinfectants, Ong said demand has been declining for the past four months.
