KUCHING: Petty traders and hawkers in Sarawak are hoping that the government will not implement a movement control order (MCO) akin to that enforced last year that severely impacted their businesses.
They are breathing a sigh of relief that Sarawak is currently enforcing a conditional movement control order (CMCO), in which the economic sector, especially traders are still allowed to operate.
Kuih seller Dayang Ja’eyah Awang Jamali, 46, said if the stricter MCO of yesteryear is imposed, her entire family would be badly affected as her business is the main source of income.
“Do not impose such a strict MCO as everything I get is from my sales. Car instalment and house rental payments, food and my children’s education will be affected,” the single mother of five told Bernama today.
The MCO was enforced previously in four phases for 47 days from March 18 to May 3, 2020.
Meanwhile, drinks seller Jamalludin Othman, 40, said the first MCO was a bitter experience as it adversely affected his livelihood but after it was over, his business did recover slowly.
“We are also worried over the increase in Covid-19 cases, but we are traders, if we do not sell, we won’t earn. We will ensure customers comply with every standard operating procedure (SOP),” he said.
An apam balik seller, Ikhmal Norozzaman, 33, concurred, as he admitted that he was at a loss wondering what to do when he could not operate as usual during the first MCO.
“When we can open, we can breathe again. Although right now, there aren’t that many customers but Alhamdulillah we still can open and earn,” he said.
The Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) yesterday agreed to tighten the CMCO SOP in Sarawak as the number of positive cases remains high and following the risk evaluation by the Health Ministry.
The amended CMCO SOP will be enforced from May 25 till June 7 and during that time, all economic, industrial and related activities are restricted to between 6 am and 10 pm in the state. – Bernama
