THE Batu Lanchang food complex will be reopened to the public from tomorrow onwards after closing for more than a week due to the detection of Covid-19 cases among its traders and hawkers.
According to Batu Lanchang assemblyman Ong Ah Teong, following the incident, a total of 168 traders and hawkers were tested negative for Covid-19.
“The remaining hawkers and traders have undergone the swab test whereby the results showed negative. They can now resume their business from tomorrow onwards as the whole area has been sanitised thoroughly.
“There is a total of 80 stalls here and today they are allowed to enter the food court for cleaning purposes.
“I believe that the traders and hawkers would be more cautious now after having encountered this situation,’’ said Ong during his visit to the food complex this morning.
Ong added that the traders and hawkers are still awaiting the standard operating procedures (SOPs) pertaining to the business operation from the Federal Government in view of the full lockdown which is set to take place from June 1 till June 14.
“As for now, they can operate from 8am onwards, but they are unsure of the business hours during the full lockdown,” said Ong.
Apart from the food complex, a total of 158 traders from the Batu Lanchang wet market located next to it,were also screened for Covid-19 and tested negative.
Meanwhile, the food complex’s representative Goh Kok Joo said the traders and hawkers would now impose a stringent rule for the customers when they enter the premises.
“We will be imposing stricter SOPs on our customers now as they will be required to use their MySejahtera App to check in at each and every stall that they visit.
“This is according to the advice given by the Ministry of Health (MOH),’’ said Goh.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Law Suun Ting