An open letter to Putrajaya, jointly penned by several industry associations and addressed to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, argued that the retail sector’s historically small contributions to Covid-19 cases showed that it would be safe to reopen the sector.
“Health ministry data reveals that the retail and shopping sector contributed merely 0.8% of all cases in May 2021, even prior to the full lockdown which started on June 1, 2021,” the groups said in the letter.
“The significantly improved and extremely low figures testify to the retail and mall industries’ strict adherence to the SOPs. They should not be unduly penalised with closure from operating.
“We appeal to the government to take these positive factors into account in the upcoming review and allow the immediate reopening of all trades in the malls, except for those on the Negative List.”
With promotional activities prohibited in malls and few opportunities for shoppers to congregate with entertainment and dining options barred, the groups said the SOPs dictating shoppers, such as only allowing “low-risk” MySejahtera holders entry, make malls “very safe places”.
If the sector is not reopened by July, the associations predict that half of the stores that have weathered the Covid-19 storm will be forced to pack up.
“Any further delay in reopening will cause irreparable damage to both the retail and shopping mall industry, which may not recover for the next few years, leaving us far behind in the economic recovery process.
“Presently, already 20-30% of shops in malls have been closed due to the adverse conditions of the past 16 months, and with 30% of staff being laid off, this amounts to 300,000 personnel.”
Co-signatories of the open letter include the Malaysia Shopping Malls Association, Malaysia Retailers Association, Malaysia Retail Chain Association, Bumiputra Retailers Organisation and The Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan (KL) Electrical Home Appliances Dealers‘ Association.
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