PUTRAJAYA – Standard operation procedures (SOPs) for the retail sector in areas under the movement control order (MCO), conditional MCO (CMCO) and recovery MCO (RMCO) have been improved and updated.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the SOPs have been synced with the general SOPs issued by the National Security Council to ensure they are fully complied with by all retail, wholesale and distribution companies.
He said the improvements and updates were done following the extension of the MCO in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johor, and Penang from February 19 to March 4.
He said it was also due to some states transitioning to CMCO from MCO, while Perlis is the only state under RMCO in the same period.
Elaborating on the SOPs, Nanta said dining in at restaurants is now allowed based on the size of tables with physical distancing of at least 1m in all areas.
In terms of the sale of clothes, fashion items and accessories, clothes-fitting is not allowed and disposable gloves must be provided in MCO areas, he said.
Nanta said clothes-fitting and fitting rooms are allowed in CMCO and RMCO areas. Disposable gloves need not be provided, but the action is encouraged.
He said studio activity in MCO areas is limited to photography for identity cards, passports and licences, involving only one customer and one photographer at any one time.
Studio activity is allowed in CMCO and RMCO areas with no limit on the number of customers present, subject to physical distancing and space available.
As for car wash operations in MCO areas, he said only drive-by washes are allowed involving the exterior of vehicles, while all car wash activities in CMCO and RMCO areas are allowed.
Face-to-face consultations are not allowed at optical shops, which are limited to only purchase and repair activities in MCO areas. However, all optical shop-related activities are now allowed in CMCO and RMCO areas, he added.
Nanta said only purchases are allowed at cosmetic, skincare, and perfume outlets in MCO areas, while the use of testers and face-to-face consultations are forbidden. These activities are, however, permitted in CMCO and RMCO areas.
He also said only basic haircuts are allowed at barbershops, hairdressers and beauty salons in the MCO areas while all hairdressing activities are allowed in CMCO and RMCO areas, except for (including in MCO areas) earwax removal, nostril hair trimming, and head, shoulder, and body massaging at barbershops.
Adding to the list of activities banned for barbershops and salons in MCO areas, facial cleansing and treatment, eye makeup, hairdressing, hair treatment, and manicures and pedicures are also not allowed.
Nanta said the ministry seeks the cooperation of the retail, wholesale and distribution community and also consumers in MCO areas to ensure the updated sector SOPs are fully complied with.
“Compliance is important to expedite efforts to contain the Covid-19 pandemic and, at the same time, hasten (states’) change of status to CMCO or RMCO,” he added.
He also reminded that firm action will be taken, including issuing compounds and shutting business premises, for failures to comply with the SOPs.
Industry players and members of the public can contact the Trade Distribution and Services Industry secretariat at 03-8882-5881/5905 or via email at [email protected]. – Bernama, February 23, 2021
