KOTA KINABALU – Just as a forest fire stimulates growth of new trees and vegetation, a fresh crop of businesses has begun to emerge in Sabah from the economic ashes of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The lockdown since last year has forced many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) here, including shop owners, to wind up, but their vacant premises have since been snapped up by new businesses recently.
A check on the city centre here found almost the entire row of shops at Gaya Street, a popular market precinct, active again.
One of the blocks along the historic street has about 18 shops on the ground floor alone. There are about six such blocks in total.
A ground survey by The Vibes found a handful of shops being shut now, compared to many more ceasing operations two months ago, from among the total of 108-odd commercial premises in Gaya Street.
The new businesses there include restaurants like economy-rice eateries, cafes and moneylenders.
Gaya Street shopkeeper Chin Kiat Yong said about eight shops in his block closed down just weeks after the second movement control order (MCO) was implemented in January this year.
Within a month, six of the premises were taken up again, he said.
“I’m surprised. In just a short time the shops began to open again,” said Chin, a third-generation retail trader in the area.
Chin said those who suffered the most during the pandemic were operators of shops catering mostly to the tourism market, dealing in products like handicraft and local foods.
“The ones doing well are those that cater to the domestic market. Who knows, once the government reopens air travel, entrepreneurs who focus on tourists will return again,” he said.
Economist Datuk Kasim Mansur pointed to a high probability that the emergence of new businesses is being spurred by a drop in rental fees and tapping of cash reserves held by entrepreneurs.
“It is also a good time to do business as the state heads towards recovery from the pandemic,” Kasim told The Vibes.
Malls, which also suffered closures since last year’s MCO, have also welcomed new tenants and new shops have been seen opening up.
Kompleks Karamunsing, which, like Kuala Lumpur’s Low Yat Plaza, sells mostly computers, laptops and tech gadgets, is now recording a healthy number of shops reopening.
A mall official told The Vibes that most of the new shops include opticians, pharmacies and food operators.
“Entrepreneurs are slowly returning after more than 30 shops ended their agreements and opted to either open elsewhere or just close down due to lack of business,” he said.
He added that stores selling laptops, tablets, computers and accessories recently enjoyed good business as students began e-learning in Sabah.
It has been exactly a year to the day since the first MCO began to curb the spread of Covid-19. – The Vibes, March 18, 2021
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