KUALA LUMPUR – Struggling retailers in Malaysia have expressed concern they will be next to hoist white flags if they are not allowed to reopen for business soon, said Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin.
The Bumiputra Retailers Organisation (BRO) president said retailers nationwide are already struggling and barely scraping by with the current prohibition that is expected to be prolonged for an indefinite period of time.
“We have seen white flags raised by people who can’t feed themselves.
“We don’t want to see white flags coming out from retail sectors. We really need help but we don’t want to come up with that movement unnecessarily.
“But I think if this continues, you might see white flags all over the place, with desperate retailers asking for help,” Ameer said at a joint virtual press conference today.
The conference was also attended by Malaysia Shopping Malls Association (PPK) president Tan Sri Teo Chiang Kok, Malaysia Retailers Association (MRA) president Tan Sri William Cheng, Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA) president Shirley Tay, Malaysia REIT Managers Association (MRMA) chairman Datuk Hisham Othman and Malaysian Association of Theme Park and Family Attractions (Matfa) president Tan Sri Richard Koh.
Ameer expressed disappointment on behalf of his fellow trade association presidents that the government – via the National Security Council (NSC), International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti), Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) and Transport Ministry (MoT) – have not made any efforts to approach them for any discussion before deciding to close the retail sector.
“We do not understand why these main ministries did not approach us for consultation. This is like a case of parents scolding a child without explaining why the child is being scolded.
“Why are they so scared to call us before deciding on the next lockdown or standard operating procedure (SOP)?
“The NSC has not officially approached us as a group. We need a meeting with all of the presidents so we can review it (SOPs) better,” he said.
Reopen retail sectors by July 15 or when 10% vaccination target is achieved
Meanwhile, Teo made a desperate appeal for all malls and retail outlets (excluding operations that cannot meet physical-distancing and crowding criterion) to reopen by July 15 or when the vaccination target of 10% is achieved, whichever is earlier.
“As at June 30, 17.7% of our population has been vaccinated with the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and 7.1% fully vaccinated with two doses.
“Even with just 17.7%, it has been proven that 70% efficacy would already have been achieved.
“The economy cannot afford to remain closed continually, otherwise, we foresee that almost 500,000 employees engaged in the shopping mall and retail industries will eventually be laid off,” Teo said.
He has also again called for the urgent vaccination of shopping frontliners – all mall staff and retailers who deal with transit customers – against the coronavirus.
“They are out extreme frontliners as they deal with a wave of shoppers who come in. And we plead for them to be vaccinated as soon as possible,” he said.
Last Sunday, the NSC had unveiled that Phase 1 of the National Recovery Plan will continue indefinitely until the three indicators have been achieved.
The transition from Phase 1 to Phase 2 will take place when the average number of daily Covid-19 cases falls below 4,000, ICU bed capacity is at a moderate level, and at least 10% of the population have received both vaccine doses.
The lockdown rules are similar to the current Phase 1 but sectors on the positive list are allowed to operate and will be expanded.
This includes the manufacturing, trade and distribution sectors. – The Vibes, July 3, 2021
