GEORGE TOWN – After the nation entered into the transition to the endemic phase, cloth mask makers are experiencing a 40% drop in sales, forcing such businesses to only make masks on demand.
Susan Chyntana, whose company is involved in the cloth mask industry, told The Vibes that the reason the sales have dropped by 40% is that something that was essential has been deemed as a non-essential during the transition to the endemic period starting May 1.
“Though Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced that masks are not mandated anymore, I believe the wearing of masks will still be around in the foreseeable future, as long as the virus is around.
“Even after the virus is gone, I still think the masses should make a habit out of wearing masks because it is a very good practice.
“People in countries like Japan and Vietnam have been wearing masks even before the pandemic,” she said.
Her company, which specialises in event planning, had to make a quick pivot to earn profits during the pandemic. Chyntana mobilised her team of experts to create cloth masks that can be personalised with company logos and patterns.
However, the last few months prior to the transition to endemic announcement by the government saw a few companies halting their cloth mask orders because they were unsure if masks were still a necessity in public.
Chyntana believes the pandemic has taught people to not only care about themselves in terms of health safety, but others as well.
She hopes that the practice of wearing masks is maintained by those who get the common flu in air-conditioned places to prevent the spread of viruses.
“I sincerely hope that people will continue to use cloth masks, the more eco-friendly and fashionable option for the protection of their health,” she added.
Demand will not cease completely
Home-based mask maker, Sim Suan See, who switched to making masks using batik after she lost her job during the movement control order, confirmed to The Vibes that demand for cloth face masks has reduced and she currently makes them on order.
“Though the orders have dropped, I believe that it will not cease completely because there are those who prefer wearing cloth masks as it is more cost-saving,” she said.
Last week, Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society president Amrahi Buang was reported as saying that despite the relaxation of the mask mandate, pharmacists are not anticipating many changes in stock, sales or prices for the once-precious commodity.
He said wearing masks for the protection of people’s health is something the masses are aware of, adding that some had even started using this as a “fashion statement”.
The Health Ministry had announced the lifting of mask mandates for open-air public spaces nationwide, with the use of face masks strongly encouraged but not mandatory, starting May 1.
However, wearing of masks remains compulsory in the interior of buildings.
Police have warned that they will continue to monitor standard operating procedure compliance, especially the use of face masks in indoor spaces.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Azmi Abu Kassim confirmed his men will continue patrolling places of convergence even with the new rules coming into effect. – The Vibes, May 7, 2022
