PETALING JAYA: Many Malaysians are unsure how the two-hour limit set for consumers to shop at retail premises will be enforced following implementation of tighter SOPs from Tuesday (May 25).
“Will police set up special forces to follow people in the mall?” Zechariah Tengku Zipporah asked.
Nickky Ong, in agreeing with Zechariah, wondered if citizens are required to check-in and out of the premises.
“How are they going to know if the person has been there for more than two hours? Do we check-in and check-out?” he asked.
On the same note, some also wondered what would the penalties be, should there be citizens who breach the new SOP.
“Are they going to be fined if (someone) breaks the rule? Will they issue compounds? What are the punishments?” social media users Ong TK and Shani Jeyakumar asked.
Earlier, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said shoppers would only be allowed to remain on the premises for a maximum of two hours under the tightened SOPs.
Nanta said the ministry will mobilise 2,262 enforcement officers nationwide to ensure SOP compliance at all premises involved in trade, retail, distribution and restaurants.
“Ministry enforcement officers will also beef up premises inspections, especially on weekends and holidays.
“The ministry, as an agency that has been given the power to enforce the MCO under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988, will not compromise in taking stern action, including issuing compounds.
“The ministry will also not hesitate to propose to the NSC for the immediate closure of any premises found not abiding by the tightened SOPs,” he said.
There were also some who praised the new ruling, saying that two hours is “more than sufficient”.
“I do grocery shopping at the malls weekly. It (two hours) is more than enough. Often I don’t even have to pay for parking because of their first free hour policy,” Facebook user Leong Peng Kong said.
“Buy quickly, go home, stay safe,” user Celine Tan said, agreeing with Leong.
“Good. Stop loitering around. Buy your stuff and go back,” Chhoo Lak Thiang said.
Several Malaysians even insisted that preventing the spread of Covid-19 is in Malaysians’ hands, no matter the SOPs.
“No urgency for anything, just don’t go.
“In the end, we have a choice; just make the wise one,” user Kim Kweh said.
“Pandai-pandai (be smart about it) lah. Whatever SOP the government implements, in the end, it is up to us.
“There will be people who follow and there will be people who break them intentionally. It is entirely in our hands,” user Mohd Kasim said.
At the time of writing, the post has gained almost 100 comments in less than 30 minutes.
In his announcement, Nanta said that every retail premises, including shopping malls, must have a limited number of customers in their respective premises, according to the rule of one person for every four sq m.
Operating hours for the retail, trade and distribution sectors, and also restaurants, will be limited from 8am to 8pm, while pharmacies and personal care shops (except activities banned under the movement control order such as spas, manicure and pedicure, and wellness) are limited from 8am to 10pm, Nanta said.
