Malaysia

Sandakan’s non-essential businesses fear folding if lockdown lasts over a month

We need assistance, plead traders facing prospect of going under due to stoppage on most economic sectors

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 30 May 2021 6:20PM

Sandakan’s non-essential businesses fear folding if lockdown lasts over a month — Following the surge in cases in Sabah, the state government has decided to adopt restrictions stipulated under the nationwide lockdown for two weeks starting tomorrow. – Bernama pic, May 30, 2021

by Rebecca Chong

SANDAKAN – Knowing that they are going to be closed for two weeks, non-essential businesses here can only hope the lockdown will last less than a month.

Hair salon owner at Sejati Walk, Mile 7, Robert Wong, said even though he supports the lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19, his business will not be able to survive if it cannot open its doors for a month.

“With zero profit, I still have to pay my rent and maintenance cost for the salon.

“I think my business will close if the lockdown period is extended for more than a month.

“My friends who also own salons also think the same.

“Hopefully, there will be some sort of financial assistance for us during this period,” he said.

Salon owner Robert Wong hopes the government will provide financial assistance during this trying time. – REBECCA CHONG/The Vibes pic, May 30, 2021

Owner of four vape shops, Yakub Fong said what he could do currently is take his business online.

“What I could do for the time being is push my products online.

“If that is not allowed, then I really do not know how to keep this business going anymore.

“We could still survive 14 days (of lockdown), but if it goes on until one month, then I foresee my shops closing down one by one,” he said.

Yakub Fong said his vape shops will close one by one if the lockdown goes on for longer than a month. – REBECCA CHONG/The Vibes pic, May 30, 2021

Poliana Ronnie Sidom who owns a clothes boutique at Mile 8 also said that she will be promoting her clothes online, hoping that the income would be able to cover rental and staff salaries.

“My shop has closed and opened several times because of the various movement control orders (MCO) and instructions.

“I depend a lot on online sales and hope that I will be able to go through this challenge this time with the same method (online sales),” she said.

Owner of Lee Boxing Club gym in Bandar Letat, Mohd Fadzlee Asmad said eversince his gym opened in April this year, he has only been able to operate for four weeks as it was closed for two weeks during the MCO period last month.

“I am only able to cover the operating cost.

Gym owner Mohd Fadzlee Asmad said he had to reduce the salary of his coach to keep his business alive. – REBECCA CHONG/The Vibes pic, May 30, 2021

“I had to reduce my coach’s salary because of the closure to keep the business going. It has been very difficult.

“I hope that the government will be able to provide financial assistance to gym owners like me, because we are barely surviving,” he said.

Following the surge in cases in Sabah, the state government has decided to adopt restrictions stipulated under the nationwide lockdown for two weeks starting tomorrow, including the closure of businesses considered non-essential. – The Vibes, May 30, 2021