KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Bumiputera Barbers’ Association (MBBA) is planning to submit a petition to the king in a desperate and final attempt to allow barbers to operate with strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) during the lockdown.
MBBA president TN Winda Tahir said that even though everyone is worried about the rise in Covid-19 cases, haircut appointments through house calls have also been on the rise.
“The reality is that house calls for haircuts are happening everywhere,” he said, referring to visits by barbers to customers’ homes on a private basis.
“This is much more worrying as it seems to be out of control and is happening at a rapid pace,” he said in a statement today.
“Haircuts are a necessity and part of personal hygiene,” he said.
“These barbers are forced to resort to alternatives and we do not want clusters to arise from uncontrolled environments,” he added.
Winda said that small salon owners have no other choice amid the rapid increase in Covid-19 cases. He said all they want is to operate their businesses in order to survive.
“We can’t survive anymore and don’t want to see our friends in the industry continue to close down.
“This (situation) will only make matters worse as many will lose their jobs,” he said.
Since the implementation of MCO 3.0, MBBA has sent several letters of appeal and recommendations to the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, International Trade and Industry Ministry, and the National Security Council in efforts to allow the barber industry to operate with strict SOPs in place.
He said the most recent attempt was a letter sent to the government yesterday, which has not been answered.
Winda says they have been left with no choice, and sending the petition to the king is a final attempt for barbers at risk of losing their livelihoods to save their businesses.
“Through the MBBA and several barber and salon associations, I will send a petition to His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“This is our last resort. We hope the government listens to us and grants us permission to resume operations immediately,” he said. – The Vibes, August 5, 2021
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