Members of the public seen in face masks as they shop at India Street.
KUCHING: The city folk made their way to several markets and shopping malls here following the implementation of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) in Sarawak yesterday.
A survey found places like India Street and Plaza Merdeka Shopping Mall filled with shoppers, all of whom were seen practising social distancing as well as wearing face masks.
One mall visitor, Syaree Serah, said he and his wife came to India Street at 8am to shop for items in preparation for Hari Raya Aidilfitri, which falls in less than two weeks.
“During the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO), I rarely left home but since most shops have reopened today (yesterday), my wife and I decide to go out to get things to prepare for Hari Raya, even though this year’s celebration would not be as festive.
It’s good to see people coming out again, while (being) mindful of the ‘new normal’ such as practising social distancing and wearing face masks,” he said.
Another shopper, Salus Jait from Kampung Siol Kandis, said the start of the CMCO in Sarawak had enabled those like him to run various errands aside from buying goods needed for the coming festival. Although still worried about the Covid-19 situation in the state, he said he, like everyone else, would have to get used to the ‘new normal’.
“The fear is there but I have to live in this new normal. Every time I go out, I will always wear a face mask and bring along hand sanitiser,” he said, adding that he would remind his children to do the same whenever they headed out.
Meanwhile, fabric trader Shajahan Sayed Ahmad, 60, reopened his shop for the first time after nearly two months of non-operation during the MCO period.
“Thankfully, with the implementation of the CMCO in Sarawak, a lot of us can start getting back on our feet again.
“Thank you to the government for allowing us to do business again. As traders, we have to be responsible and comply with the standard operating procedure (SOP),” said Shajahan, who raised his shutters at 8am.
A Bata store employee checks the temperature of a customer prior to allowing entry.
For Bata store manager Lily Tnay, she said she made sure that her staffers were prepared to operate the business in accordance with the SOP set by the government.
“Before opening the store, we would first sanitise and ensure that customers would register their names and phone numbers as a precaution,” she said, adding that only three customers would be allowed to enter the premises at one time.
Plaza Merdeka Holdings Sdn Bhd director Datin Anriza Wong Cordero said the management had always followed the SOP before allowing staffers, traders and customers enter the shopping mall.
“The safety measures include checking body temperature, wearing face masks, using hand sanitisers and maintaining social distancing,” she said.
According to her, about 70 per cent of the mall’s traders have reopened while the rest have not as they have not carried out cleaning works on their premises.
“The hair salon, children’s toy shop and massage shop are not allowed to open because they are at risk of being exposed to Covid-19,” she said, adding that the mall is open daily from 10am to 8pm throughout the CMCO period.