Speaking to FMT, Mohamed Zamri Mohammed, the secretary-general of an organisation of Malay traders and business associations, said the prohibition of dining in and the travel restrictions would result in businesses taking another hit.

He said many had yet to recover from the first MCO, which came into force last March and lasted for nearly two months.

“During the recovery period, many traders’ revenues were only half of the pre-Covid-19 period because people still had concerns about going out and the SOPs meant that businesses could not operate at full capacity,” he said.

“Now, with the latest MCO, we expect business to dip another 50%.”

Zamri represents Gabungan Persatuan-Persatuan Penjaja dan Peniaga Kecil Melayu.

He said the only comfort he could find was in the knowledge that individual traders and associations were now experienced in doing business under a lockdown and that takeaways from eateries were allowed.

His group has set up an online marketplace and a delivery service and these would help traders sell their products at competitive prices.

He voiced a hope that the government would consider subsidies for traders or give them cash aid, “perhaps around RM500 a month”.

Kuala Lumpur Bumiputera Traders and Hawkers Association vice-president Muhamad Baba Kutty said he was particularly concerned about restaurant and food stall operators who rely on dine-in customers.

“They will see at least a 50% reduction in business. These are the traders who will need help, especially if the MCO drags on,” he said.

Baba Kutty said the restriction on travelling within a 10km radius in MCO areas was troublesome for business operators as well as their workers.

“It limits the customer base for traders. I think it is okay to allow travel beyond a 10km radius as the SOPs remain the same. People will still only be allowed to take away food,” he said.

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