KUALA LUMPUR – It makes little sense to require retailers to temporarily close their business premises in the event Covid-19 cases are detected among staff, said Bumiputera Retailers’ Organisation president Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin.
He said doing so does not really address the fact that the coronavirus is already in the community, adding that affected businesses could suffer tremendous losses due to this.
Ameer, who is also managing director of Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd, said for a well-performing hypermarket, a day’s closure could cost up to RM100,000.
This includes sanitising the area, which could cost between RM20,000 and RM30,000 for a reasonably sized hypermarket, and tens of thousands of ringgit more in potential income will also be missed.
“Chances are, even if you are forced to close your premises for a day or two, customers who walk in the next day may also be unknowingly carrying the virus,” he told The Vibes yesterday.
“Logically, we don’t need to shut down, because if a staffer is positive, it is most likely they contracted it from outside. In fact, they are also similarly exposed to customers, who may already be positive.
“It cannot continue like this. Cases are going to be there every day. Even if I test negative today, that does not mean I can’t be positive tomorrow. It feels like the government is using a sledgehammer to kill a fly.”
At present, premises with Covid-19 infections have to cease operations temporarily to conduct disinfection and sanitisation, with the closure duration depending on the respective states and on a case-by-case basis.
Since the start of the pandemic last year, hundreds of business premises have been instructed by the Health Ministry to close for disinfection, including hypermarkets, supermarkets and grocery chains.
Ameer, who is also Malaysia Retailers’ Association vice-president, suggested that deep cleaning be conducted at night, after operating hours.
In the meantime, he said, a quick sanitisation could be carried out immediately in areas where a Covid-19-positive staffer might have been, while allowing other parts of the store to remain open.
“By doing this, we can also stem rumours about the closure of business premises, which could create fear among the public, and further affect businesses.”
Existing SOPs enough to ensure consumers’ safety
Malaysian Muslim Consumers’ Association chief activist Datuk Nadzim Johan said Ameer’s suggestion for businesses to remain open despite cases among staff should be given serious consideration.
He said he understands that there may be concerns among consumers, but added that existing standard operating procedures (SOPs) are sufficient to ensure their safety.
“The government has already introduced SOPs, like wearing face masks and practising social distancing. They just need to comply.
“When vaccines are rolled out later, do business premises still have to shut down if there are cases reported?”
He said the government should listen to business players, who, as it is, are making losses even without closures, due to the drop in sales resulting from movement restrictions.
Federation of Malaysian Consumers’ Associations president Datuk Marimuthu Nadason, however, believes the existing SOPs on closures should remain, saying it does not “kill” to take extra precautionary measures.
“If there is a case, close down for one day, disinfect, then reopen. It’s very simple. Most importantly, we need to assure the public of (their) safety. This is the priority.” – The Vibes, February 3, 2021
