KUALA LUMPUR: Restaurant and coffee shop operators have urged the government to clearly list standard operating procedures (SOP) for dining-in following its relaxation of the two-per-table rule.
Malaysia-Singapore Coffee Shop Proprietors' General Association (MSCPGA) Datuk Ho Su Mong said this is crucial so that everyone is on the same page.
"Our members are very confused, we need (it in) black and white to resume operations in peace.
"There is no clear SOP and like before, enforcement officers will have their individual and varying interpretations of the ruling.
"We and our customers can't afford being compounded or summoned in this economy," he said, citing the RM1,000 compound slapped on those violating SOP.
Ho said the proposed list should spell out the maximum number of people allowed at a table according to specific sizes, measurements and other requirements, including distance from other tables, and the number of people allowed in restaurants as per outlet size.
"A sizeable number of our members have decided to push back opening their stalls or shops until these SOPs have been spelt out."
On Thursday, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said more than two persons are now allowed per table for dining in states where the Movement Control Order (MCO) is imposed.
Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association (Primas) deputy president C. Krishnan also appealed to the government to allow manual check-in along with app-based registration to enter eateries.
"People are still using it, so we hope that this option can be still used as some don't have smartphones and so on," he said while referring to the Feb 9 announcement by Ismail Sabri that manual check-ins are now only allowed in places where there is no internet coverage.
Krishnan said their members would adhere to the guidelines by following the template of earlier SOPs drawn during relaxations involving the Conditional MCO.
"It will be trial and error, but we will cope. We also hope the public will cooperate with us in adhering to the SOPs."
Social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the government's announcement came as a relief as it allows eateries facing losses to continue operating and retain their workers.
Earlier, Krishnan said that the government's relaxation on the number of diners is helpful, but an immediate turnaround in business is unlikely.
He said that restaurant operators have incurred losses from March to May 2020.
"Then, from July to September, they recovered between 60 per cent and 70 per cent of their business. But when the third wave struck with another round of CMCO in October, the crowd and business went down again."
"Business dropped to 40 per cent and then 20 per cent between October last year and January, " he said, adding that the government should consider providing rental assistance subsidy to affected business operators.
This was also echoed by Ho and the Indian Muslim Restaurant Owners' Association (PRESMA).
Ho revealed that some 600 coffee shops have closed down during the MCO 2.0 period.
He said that without interest-free loans or rental subsidies, many others are set to go bust.
"Hong Kong has given 75 per cent rental subsidies for business owners. So please don't let us die, coffee shops have been a part of Malaysian culture for more than a century."
Ho earlier said that it is difficult for coffee shops to apply for moratoriums due to conditions set by banks.