Ministry: Supermarkets encouraged to place purchase limits on essential items to prevent stockpiling

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Long queues seen at one of the supermarkets in the city recently.

KUCHING: Supermarkets are encouraged to place purchase limits on essential items such as food and daily necessities to prevent stockpiling during the Movement Control Order (MCO), said the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs.

It said this in a 20-point Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) today to address some of the concerns raised by the public about MCO which is being enforced starting today until March 18.

The ministry also mentioned that operation of distribution centres (DC) which supply essential daily needs and food including e-commerce warehouse and supporting warehouse services are allowed to continue operating.

Other questions addressed by the ministry were:

Are restaurants, Ready to Eat (RTE) or bakery sections allowed to operate?
Restaurants, RTEs or bakeries can be open but only for take aways and ‘drive-thru’ or delivery services by specific companies such as GrabFood or Foodpanda. Dine-in and eat-in are not allowed.

What about food court and tenants which are operating within a hypermarket?
Food courts can open but only for take-aways or through delivery services by specific companies such as GrabFood or Foodpanda. Dine-in and eat-in are not allowed. Only tenants operating in the clinical pharmaceutical industry are allowed to continue operating in the hypermarket.

What about the operation of retails in shopping malls such as anchor tenants?
Only retail operations for food and daily essentials at shopping malls can continue operating but on a negotiated basis between the tenants and premises owners.

What will the operation of eateries, grocery stores or convenience stores in specialty stores be like?
Eatery, grocery stores or convenience stores in special stores are only allowed to operate as usual but only for take-away food or through delivery services such as GrabFood or Foodpanda. Dine-in and eat-in are not allowed.

How about departmental stores which have supermarkets and home furnishings/fashion/food court?
Only supermarkets selling food items and daily necessities are allowed to operate at departmental stores.

Can self-service laundrettes continue to operate?
Self-service laundrettes are not allowed to operate during the MOC enforcement period to prevent the gathering of crowds.

Can security guard services at supermarkets continue?
Security-related services may continue.

Can renovations at business premises continue?
Ongoing renovation works must be suspended. In the event of security issues, the relevant companies have to obtain permission from the Ministry of Works and Construction Industry Development Authority Malaysia (CIDB) for renovation work to continue.

Are third party service providers allowed to operate to assist in operations and supply chains as they are critical in business continuity?
Services that will have a direct impact on security and supplies are permitted. Consumers and third parties need to take into account health factors such as wearing face masks and using hand sanitisers.