KUALA LUMPUR: Otak-Otak seller Khoo Chai Heng, or Uncle Khoo as he is more fondly known, constantly checks his phone for the latest updates on the Covid-19 situation in the country.
With each passing day, the 60-year-old looks at his tools of trade, which includes a grilling rack for his spicy fishcake that is wrapped in nipah palm leaves, wondering when he can return to his trade.
Khoo makes the popular street snack by himself at his modest shop in Taman Maju Jaya, Cheras, before selling them at night markets around the city, including SS2, Taman Connaught in Cheras, Taman Desa in Old Klang Road and Setia Alam in Shah Alam.
Since March, with the exception of morning markets, all the other markets, including night markets, remain closed. And these have affected the livelihood of petty traders such as Khoo, who earned a small income from selling the street snack.
"I hope that it won't take long for us to return to selling our products at the night market. Honestly, it has been so long that some of us are out of jobs and earning so little to pay for our family's living expenses," he said.
With the help of his tech-savvy son, Khoo managed to earn extra from the sales he made through online.
He added that sales dipped significantly since the Movement Control Order (MCO) was implemented on March 18.
Besides manning his stalls in night markets, Khoo also takes order for occasions such as birthday parties or office parties. With the restriction on social gatherings, Khoo said the orders naturally stopped coming in.
Heaving a sigh, he said that in the beginning, sales were promising but since the MCO rules were eased and more eateries opened-up, his sales took a dip again.
"My sales and income are not fixed. Sometimes it's good, some-times it's moderate. Now that more shops are opened and people can go out to get their food, I am also getting reduced orders," he said.
"I accept all the decisions and outcome with an open heart. I understand that it's all for the greater good. For now, my only hope is for the situation in our country to get better so that everyone can return to their normal lives," he added.
HEALTH COMES FIRST
For Michael Lim, 37, he is in no hurry to restart his business in the night market due to health and safety reasons.
Like many, Lim opts to stay put until the Covid-19 situation in the country becomes better.
"There's no point risking my health and that of my loved ones by rushing into the opening of my stall in night market. Although there will be certain standard operating procedures (SOP) that small hawkers like us need to adhere to, I am not going to take the risk," he said.
Although his income dipped compared with pre-Covid-19 days, the Kuala Lumpur-based Lim, who sells Aiyu jelly drinks at the Sri Petaling night market, is happy to be able to spend more time with his family.
"I make about 80 per cent less in the past few months but I am okay with it. My family's health is my number one priority. Why risk the health of those around you for that little bit of income?" he questioned.
Since the MCO was in place, Lim said he tried selling his product online, which had helped him cover some of his expenses.
To make it easier for his customers, Lim separated each of the ingredients for the drinks into individual packets.
"Sales was very good in the beginning. My regular customers continue to order from me despite not being able to go out. I'm thankful for their continued support," he said.
WAITING FOR GREEN LIGHT
Meanwhile, toys and children's clothing seller Irmanira Mohd Isa said she could not wait to return to her night market stall in Bandar Seri Ehsan in Banting, Selangor.
The 39-year-old mother of four boys said she managed to cut her losses, when she began selling the children's clothing online at a discounted price.
Irmanira said she still preferred selling her products through a physical store.
"Online business is still new to me. There are so many things to learn. Alhamdullilah, business has been good. But since Hari Raya, business has been on the slow side again," she said.
With the income she earns from selling toys and children's clothing, Ismanira said she used it to purchase new items, such as leggings for kids, which she hoped could continue to sustain her business until she received the green light to reopen her stall.
"Whatever I am earning at the moment is enough to put food on the table. For that I am thankful," she said.
The Perak native said she missed talking to her customers face to face when they visited her stall.
"It's one of the little things that I miss. I feel satisfied being able to talk to my customers and seeing the happy faces of children as they look at my toys on sale. In the future, I am not sure how this would be, especially with the new SOP in place," she said.
She hoped things would return to normal soon so that she could return to manning her stall in Banting.
"Our livelihood has been affected for many months and I hope that things will be better soon so that small businesses like ours can continue to survive."