ROADSIDE stalls in Air Itam, Bayan Baru, Jalan Perak and Jelutong have been ordered to be temporarily closed from tomorrow until the movement control order (MCO) ends on March 31.
Since the first day of MCO was enforced on March 18, social media has been abuzz with overcrowding of market-goers in several markets.
Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang announced this today for hawkers and the market- goers to avoid close contact and the spread of Covid-19.
“Our MBPP’s enforcement officers have given a series of advices during this period but it seems nothing much has changed.
“We have no choice but to proceed further with stern action,” he said.
State Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the state would take stern action against those errant businesses as there was ‘enough of talking’.
Business premises and stalls in Penang that fail to adhere to the 14-day movement control order (MCO) are set to face the music beginning tomorrow.
Jagdeep said the warning has been issued following growing impatience by authorities after their calls and advices were not taken seriously by certain quarters.
He said both MBPP and MBSP (Seberang Perai City Council) would take stringent measures.
“We have been giving advices and educating them from the first day of MCO until now but some of our advices have fallen on deaf ears.
“Therefore, business premises that still fail to comply with MCO regulations risk having their belongings confiscated or even licences revoked.
“I hope all Penangites will do their part and cooperate with the authorities during this period.
“We are prioritising people’s health and safety after all,” he told a press conference in Komtar today.
Up to this hour, 1,834 business premises on island while 253 premises on mainland had been checked by both enforcement councils.
Jagdeep, on a brighter side, said the compliance rate in the state was encouraging for now, estimating it at about 80 percent.
“It is a positive sign but there are still few areas that need to be addressed.
“Certain quarters still choose to be ignorant and do not adhere to MCO,” he added.
Jagdeep believed that the rate could still be improved and expressed his hopes that everyone would follow the regulations imposed.
Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) mayor Datuk Rozali Mohamud also emphasised the importance of social distancing in wet markets.
“We noticed that there are five out of 30 markets that did not practise social distancing.
“The markets are in Sungai Dua, Penanti, Sama Gagah, Taman Selamat and Kampung Baru.
“We hope others will follow the MCO accordingly and distance themselves from another person in a certain distance,” he said.
Also present was state Housing director Ainul Fadhilah Samsudi.
At the time of writing, a total of 37 people in Penang been infected with Covid-19 while 1,030 has been detected nationally.
Malaysia has so far recorded three deaths related to Covid-19.
Story by Edmund Lee