KUALA LUMPUR: The first day of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) in several states yesterday saw an increase in not only highway traffic but also heightened expectations among businesses for more patrons this weekend.
In the Klang Valley, the lifting of the Movement Control Order 2.0 (MCO 2.0) and return to the more lenient CMCO saw major road arteries full of vehicles after the lifting of the interdistrict travel ban. The Federal Highway was among the stretches that experienced a large increase in traffic with longer travel times compared with the MCO period.
Kuala Lumpur Police's Traffic Investigation and Enforcement head Assistant Commissioner Zulkefly Yahya said that from 6am to 2pm yesterday, there was a 20 per cent increase in vehicular traffic at the Sungai Besi and Kajang toll plazas.
"There was an estimated 70 per cent increase in vehicles in the city centre over the same period."
On Tuesday, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the MCO in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johor and Penang would be replaced with the CMCO starting yesterday until March 18. Apart from lifting the ban on interdistrict travel, a number of activities which had been prohibited during the MCO are now allowed under the CMCO.
Checks at shopping malls found an increased number of mall-goers, with a bigger crowd expected this weekend. Mall operators hope that the easing of restrictions will lead to more shoppers thronging their outlets this weekend.
Sunway Malls and Theme Parks chief executive officer H.C. Chan said the lifting of interdistrict travel restriction and re-opening of entertainment sectors have been pivotal in driving an increase in visitors.
"Through preliminary observation, we estimate between 60 and 70 per cent of traffic normalcy, referring to a footfall comparison between now and before the pandemic began across our malls.
"As such, we expect a big crowd over the weekend and the weeks to follow. We are optimistic the trajectory will be on the upside driven by the re-opening of cinemas, beauty services and family entertainment, like karaoke outlets, family amusement parks and theme parks."
1 Utama Shopping Centre public relations manager Lee Li Lian said the increase in shoppers began last weekend.
She said the mall received a surge of visitors due to the final week of the Chinese New Year celebration, as well as the government announcement of allowing more than two diners per table in restaurants and lifting the two passengers per car limit.
"We are unsure about the crowd this weekend but are looking forward to welcoming returning moviegoers to the Golden Screen Cinemas and TGV Cinemas after a long hiatus as 1 Utama is the only mall in Malaysia to have two cinema chains under one roof.
"The volume of business sales and traffic are expected to be on a sustainable, steady uptrend with the latest CMCO in place. This weekend, our teams are on standby to ensure that visitors adhere to the standard operating procedures in our mall."