HAWKERS are feeling hopeful that their business will pick up following the recent Government announcement revising the permitted operating hours for eateries and restaurants under the first phase of the National Recovery Plan.
They can now operate from 6am to 10pm. The new operating hours started from June 28.
Bayan Baru Hawkers Community Association chairman Roy Ang said the hawkers at the Bayan Baru food court had been badly affected when the Federal Government imposed the ‘no dine-in’ and the ‘8am to 8pm’ restrictions.
“Our business dropped by 80%. We lost many ‘morning’ customers because we were only allowed to open from 8am onwards. And we had to clean up and close before 8pm, hence, we also lost our ‘dinner’ customers.
“The damage has been done and the recovery will be slow.
“You can see it for yourself, how many customers we have per day.
“We hope to recover our losses with the new operating hours. At least now we can serve the ‘morning’ and ‘dinner’ customers,” Ang said when met at the food court today.
He said many hawkers had decided to close their stalls when the Federal Government imposed the ‘no dine-in’ and the ‘8am to 8pm’ restrictions.
“They rather close and reduce their expenses, than open and suffer heavier losses.
“With the new operating hours (6am to 10pm), about 70% of the hawkers in the food court are operating. We have 128 stalls here,” he said.
Ang said that the hawkers hoped that the Federal Government could allow dine-in with a limit of two pax per table.
Ang also appealed to the state government to consider waiving their rentals for at least a month.
“The rental is between RM201 and RM331 per month, excluding water and electricity bills.
“Some hawkers also need to pay the salaries of their workers,” he said.
Hawker Ooi Teong Eng, 58, said he received less than 10 orders per day, even with the help of delivery service.
“My business has dropped by almost 80%. I hope that my business can pick up with the new operating hours.
“Most customers prefer to dine in as they can enjoy hot food,” Ooi said. He has been a hawker for over 30 years.
Currently, he sells curry mee and chee cheong fun at the Bayan Baru food court.
Penang Hawkers’ Association president Datuk Lam Tong Ying lauded the Federal Government’s decision to extend the operating hours for eateries and restaurants.
“It can help to save many hawkers from the low income group. Many of them had been severely impacted by the pandemic.
“Now, many people can avoid the rush hour to get food for their family in the evening.
“I hope that this decision will be maintained,” he said.
Chai Leng Park Hawkers’ and Traders’ Association chairman Tan Hock Chai said the extension of operating hours is a respite for many hawkers.
“This is the news that we have been waiting for since the full movement control order (FMCO) was imposed.
“The new operating hours can help to increase the income of hawkers. It may not be much but the new operating hours is better than the earlier ‘8am to 8pm’ rule.
“It is also more convenient for early risers to get their breakfast,” Tan said.
Meanwhile, hotel maintenance staffer P. Kannan welcomed the new operating hours.
“The Government finally listened to the people’s calls.
“I have been finding it hard to buy food in the morning as I work various shifts – morning and night.
“I was unable to have breakfast because when I left my house at about 6am, the stalls were closed.
“I could only have a cup of coffee at home.
“I have been waiting for this piece of good news,” he said.
Story by Christopher Tan and Edmund Lee
Pix by Alissala Thian and courtesy of the interviewees