ALL wet market traders in Penang island have been told to conduct their business on a ‘rotation system’ beginning tomorrow in a bid to limit the crowd size during the current movement control order (MCO).
Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang said this initiative was taken to reduce the high number of traders and market-goers inside a market as a precautionary step in containing the Covid-19 outbreak.
He pointed out that it was important for the traders to carry out their businesses on rotation subject to the arrangement of their respective traders’ association.
“For example, team A will operate their business today while team B will do so tomorrow before team A resumes their business a day after.
“This will help to limit number of people inside the market and avoid overcrowding around the marketplace.
“Apart from wanting to reduce the number of stalls operating, we only allow two customers to be at one stall at a time.
“We hope every stall in the market will adhere to this call. The cooperation of everyone is much appreciated,” he told a press conference in Komtar today.
This measure is part of the local council’s effort to combat the spreading of the coronavirus, which has infected 58 people and killed one victim in the state at the time of writing.
Other steps, Yew said, would be implemented tomorrow are temporarily closing down the roadside stalls in Pulau Tikus wet market, allowing only an entry and an exit point in the market, making hand sanitisers available in respective stalls and prohibiting the culling of livestock in the market.
Yew warned that stern action would be taken if the mentioned measures were not taken seriously.
“The market risks being closed from operating if their traders’ association does not adhere to it,” he added.
The MBPP’s effort was lauded by state Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo.
He hopes everyone would adhere to the MCO ruling imposed until March 31.
“As far as I know, 2,252 business premises on island and 751 premises on mainland have been checked since the implementation of MCO.
“On the island, social distancing effort needs to be improved in Air Itam and Jalan Perak wet markets while over on the mainland, the MCO compliance of wet markets in Kepala Batas, Sungai Dua, Chai Leng Park, Penanti and Bandar Tasek Mutiara needs to be addressed,” he said.
On a brighter note, Jagdeep pointed out that both city councils had reported an improvement in the compliance rate but a need for improvement in the practice of social distancing.
As of yesterday, he said traders on island and mainland have achieved 90% and 84% compliance rate respectively.
“I am extremely delighted with the improvement but some areas still need to be sorted out accordingly,” he added.
Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) mayor Datuk Rozali Mohamud said his enforcement officers would act sternly by confiscating those errant traders’ belongings if they flout the regulations beginning today.
“The traders will also risk having their business licences revoked,” he warned, adding that the advices had already been given since MCO began on March 18.
He said wet markets on mainland would restrict only 50 to 150 market-goers at any one time.
“Our officers will be on the ground to monitor the situation. Any market which does not follow the rules risk a shutdown,” he said.
Rozali added that all markets on mainland would be disinfected twice a day during this period.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix from YB Jagdeep’s office