ENTERING the second week of the movement control order 3.0 (MCO 3.0), malls and supermarkets in Penang are continuously being strict with the implementation of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) in view of the Covid-19 pandemic at their respective outlets.
Checking-in using the MySejahtera App on their mobile phones has become an automatic practice for shoppers, who also have their body temperature checked before being allowed into the premises by security personnel or staff members.
During a check conducted by Buletin Mutiara at a shopping mall and a supermarket today, it was found out that the visitors exhibited a good SOP compliance level.
Wan Mohamad Hazrul Wan Sulaiman, 35, the store manager of Sunshine Jelutong said the supermarket has been strict with the SOPs ever since the first MCO.
“Most of the customers here comply with the SOPs, for instance, scanning the MySejahtera App and checking their body temperatures. We do not have problem with asking them to do so.
“With the help from our staff, we also ensure that they queue up while maintaining physical distancing rule,’’ said Wan Mohamad Hazrul.
On crowd control, Wan Mohamad Hazrul said a numbering system is used to limit the number of visitors to the supermarket.
“We give number cards to the visitors at the entrance to keep count on the number of visitors. We only allow 50 people at one time.
“This is to prevent overcrowding inside the supermarket,’’ said Wan Mohamad Hazrul, adding that the mall would usually see more shoppers during the weekend.
Likewise, at the Queensbay Mall, the shoppers are also given numbered tickets as part of the mall’s measure to limit the number of people visiting the mall at one time.
Even before the visitors enter the mall, they are thoroughly checked by the security guards stationed at the car parks.
The Queensbay Mall, which is also listed in the Hotspot Identification for Dynamic Engagement (HIDE) system, has seen a drop in the number of shoppers due to the inter-district ban.
Just recently, a few shoppers were slapped with summonses by the police for breaching SOPs as they did not observe the inter-district travel ban.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter