THE traffic flow and conditions at the several wet markets as well as shopping malls in the north Seberang Prai (SPU) district look more organised and under control as the movement control order (MCO) enters its 14th day of enforcement today.
The MCO enforcement, which started on March 18, has been extended from March 31 to April 14 to fight the spread of Covid-19.
A check by Buletin Mutiara at Kepala Batas wet market saw market-goers practising the social distancing order and were seen wearing face masks when doing their shopping.
Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) enforcement officers and police personnel were also on duty at the market early in the morning.
Every market-goer has his or her body temperature checked by the MBSP officer before being allowed to enter the market.
The authorities did not allow many people into the market at any one time to prevent overcrowding.
The market-goers could enter the market through only one entrance and leave through only one exit.
It was the same situation at other wet markets in Bertam and Pinang Tunggal.
Over at the Tesco and Sunshine malls in the Kepala Batas area, there were quite long queues.
However, there were markers on the floor to guide them to keep a safe distance of at least a metre from one another.
The mall management also conducted a body temperature check on every customer and provided hand sanitisers for them to use.
Meanwhile, it is observed that a roadblock was set up near the Kepala Batas toll plaza.
However, fewer vehicles were seen there today.
MBSP councillor Fahmi Zainol said the compliance rate during the MCO period among the people in Seberang Perai area was improving each day.
“I find that the majority of the people are adhering to the MCO. I have been observing the situation for the past few days at several places in Seberang Perai, especially in SPU.
“Although there is an increase in shoppers at the malls, there are not a lot of them if compared to the early days of MCO.
“Thus, I hope the positive momentum will continue during the second phase of MCO that will start from tomorrow.
“I know it is not easy to just stay at home and limit our movements outside. But we need to understand that the MCO enforcement is meant to prevent the spread of Covid-19. It is for our own good.
“Thus, we need to give our full cooperation during the MCO period so that our country will not become like the United States, Italy and China because these three countries recorded among the highest positive cases of Covid-19 in the world,” Fahmi said when contacted today.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis