KUALA LUMPUR: The government's decision not to impose a full lockdown has provided some relief to hawkers and small traders.
Berisi Cafe owner Amutiah Kasmiran, 65, said she was grateful that businesses were still allowed to operate despite stricter rules under the improved Movement Control Order (MCO 3.0+).
She said the Covid-19 pandemic has seriously impacted traders, with many still recovering from the massive losses incurred during the various lockdown phases since March 18 last year.
"We were happy with the green light given to us to carry out business as usual despite limited operating hours," she said when contacted.
She said the limited operating hours as announced by the government were the best move to flatten the curve, without shutting down the economic sector.
Amutiah's cafe, located at Medan Mara, sells traditional cookies and snacks along with dishes such as soto, mee udang, and nasi ayam hainan among others.
Food trader at Medan Selera Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz; Mohd Jalil Ayob, 59, too was grateful for the government's decision to allow eateries to operate.
However, he hoped that the government could review the operating hours, as the limited operating hours for eateries made it difficult for those who needed to buy food before and after working hours.
An assistant at a burger stall, who only wanted to be known as Naim, said the government should allow eateries to remain open past 8pm.
"Since dine-ins are still prohibited, it shouldn't be a problem for eateries to operate at least until 10pm for take-aways and drive-through services.
"It is also to give customers enough time to get their dinner after work.
"For burger stalls, we usually open in the evening, hence we only have a few hours of business," he said.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Federation of Malay Hawkers and Petty Traders Association (GPPPKMM) secretary-general Mohamed Zamri Mohammed said as Covid-19 is showing no signs of abating, hawkers and small traders were encouraged to do their businesses online, by joining the Warongku platform.
"With the frequent change of operating hours according to the Covid-19 situation and the MCO, small traders should start going online too.
"As such, they will be able to continue with their businesses, to make ends meet."
Warongku, is under the Hawker and Trader Development Programme via the Smart Digital Terminal spearheaded by the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry through its agency, SME Corp Malaysia.
Yesterday, Senior Minister (security cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that operating hours for eateries, namely restaurants, food stalls and kiosks, food trucks as well as take-away and drive-through services would be from 8am to 8pm, under a stricter MCO starting Tuesday (May 25).
The same applies to shopping malls, grocery stores, convenience stores, and pet food stores, petrol stations (except those located along highways), and launderettes.
Night markets previously allowed to open from 4pm to 10pm will also be subjected to the 8pm closure order.