Lack of customers at the stall due to MCO being carried out.
(Source: Malay Mail / Sayuti Zainudin)

KEMAMAN – Small traders who had just breathed a sigh of relief when they were allowed to continue operating their business in the month of Ramadan are now back to square one worrying about their fate.

On May 21, Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced the results of a special session of the National Security Council on the management of COVID-19 crisis.

The implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) 3.0 is said to be more strict on rules and curfews on the economic and social sectors. It is effective from May 12 to June 7.

Although the government still allows small businesses to continue operating, the time allocated limits the income of the seller’s business.

Restaurant owners and employees who are operating at night are likely to be the most affected by the implementation of MCO as the business hours are shortened.

Siti Nor Hamizah clothing business at Pasar Malam Kemasik.
(Source: Berita DIMENSi / Norsuhana Rostam)

Siti Nor Hamizah Adnan, 23, is one of the merchants who owns a small clothing business at a night market in Kemasik.

Hamizah said that there were a lot of challenges that she faced throughout the MCO period during an interview by Berita DIMENSi’s journalist via WhatsApp.

“Most small business owners have lost their main source of income during the first MCO in March 2020. During the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), the government allows business to normally operate as usual.

“It is saddening to see that the public nowadays tend to buy essential items only rather than purchasing non-essential items such as clothes. The total income I have earned during MCO is only 15% of the income I usually obtained,” Hamizah said.

She also said that she was left with no choice but to save as much as she can because nobody knows when this pandemic will end.

Hamizah also offers options such as cash on delivery (COD) with postage charges to those who cannot purchase her clothes in-store.

Dato' Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in a Press Conference with the Director General of Health Malaysia on MCO 3.0.
(Source: Youtube / Astro Awani)

Minister of Defence Malaysia, Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob held a special press conference with the Director General of Health on May 22, regarding the details of standard operating procedures (SOP) and stricter restrictions throughout the MCO 3.0.

“The government has set up a special task force comprising the Malaysian Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), the National Security Council and Bank Negara to help on matters involving the health and well-being of Malaysians,” said Ismail Sabri during live press conference on Astro Awani’s Youtube channel.

The government expressed their concerns and worries on the well-being of the public, especially those who depend wholly on their small businesses as their main source of income.

Monetary assistance is provided by the government through the Geran Khas PrIhatin programme to lighten their burden at this time of need.

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