GEORGE TOWN: Rumours of Kompleks Bayan Baru's closure due to Covid-19 cases among hawkers have resulted in customers shunning the food court since yesterday.
The irresponsible action has resulted in hawkers there to suffer huge losses despite opening up for business as usual.
Kompleks Bayan Baru Hawkers Association chairman Roy Ph Ang said rumours of the closure due to Covid-19 had badly affected hawkers there, with some experiencing a drop in business by up to 90 per cent.
He said there was hardly any customers since yesterday, leaving the place eerily deserted.
"We are already facing hardship due to the numerous rounds of movement restrictions and now this is happening. Imagine some of the hawkers ended up throwing away unsold food
"I hope the customers will return again without doubt. Don't believe in rumours," he told the New Straits Times when met after a visit by Penang Island City Council Mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang at noon today.
Yew, during his visit, had assured there was no closure of the food court.
He also said there were no cases of Covid-19 infection at the premises.
Roy said, as the chairman of the hawkers association, he would have personally requested for the closure of the food court if there was indeed the spread of Covid-19 among the hawkers.
"But there is no such thing and we are still doing business as usual.
"In fact, there are strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to follow before one enters the food court.
"Moreover, authorities frequently monitor the food court here," he added.
Meanwhile, Hokkien Mee seller, Ong Teik Ooi, 55, said he was forced to throw away the broth today due to the significant drop in customers.
"Usually, during the weekend, I would have been able to sell about 100 packets of the noodles until now. But because of the rumours, I was only able to sell 30 packets of the noodles today.
"I had no choice but to throw away the broth as it would not be good for me to re-use it tomorrow.
"I really hope customers do not believe such fake news. We are gravely affected by it," he added.
For Nasi Ayam Kukus seller, Kamariah Mahat, 48, she said her business dropped since yesterday but it worsened today.
"See, I am still opening for business at this hour as there are many chicken and rice left. Usually, they would have been sold out by noon.
"I only managed to sell about 100 packets today compared to 250 packets before this.
"Bad enough, during Phase One of the National Recovery Plan, our businesses were hanging by the thread due to numerous rumours and fake news flying around.
"I really hope customers will return. There is nothing for them to fear as we adhere to strict SOP."