They said their employees need to be immunised urgently due to their close proximity to customers when operating.
The science, technology and innovation ministry had agreed to collaborate with shopping malls and retailers as part of their initiative to vaccinate the private sector, with nearly 100,000 registered with the domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry.
The groups said they had been informed that vaccinations for the sector, initially slated to begin next month, had been pushed back until August.
“In the light of many economic sectors currently commencing their vaccination programmes, we feel very aggrieved and deeply discriminated against.
“We have appealed for the urgent vaccination of our shopping frontliners by early next month,” they said in a joint statement.
“Our frontliners are much more exposed than those who work in factories or offices, where they are all always working in the company of the same fellow workers.”
Further, with the government targeting for the country to move into Phase 2 of the National Recovery Plan in July, should the number of cases dip and the vaccination targets be met, the associations said vaccinating their employees before that would allow them to reopen when the restrictions are eased.
They said they had already argued that malls and the retail sector, including standalone shops, should be allowed to open due to the extremely low incidence of merely 0.8% of infections being reported there.
Other retail outlets selling fashion accessories, books and stationery, electrical appliances and hairdressers should also be allowed to operate, they added.
“It cannot be denied that shopping malls and the retail industry contribute significantly to our economy. We must make all efforts to preserve the performance of the sector.
“Our market size is relatively small and it is challenging to entice foreign brands to our country to add diversity and attract tourists. Thus, we need to make all efforts to retain those who are already in our country.”
Signatories to the statement included the Malaysia Shopping Malls Association, Malaysia Retailers Association, Malaysia Retail Chain Association and the Bumiputera Retailers Organization.