Your turn now: The RiVAC
programme at the Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre is for retail employees and frontliners from the 1 Utama Shopping Centre and
surrounding malls. YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Retailers want clear guidelines to allow them to reopen their businesses as soon as possible following the recent launch of the retail industry vaccination programme (RiVAC).
Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA) president Shirley Tay welcomed the start of the programme but said there must be clear standard operating procedures to ensure the smooth running when retail businesses are allowed to reopen.
“Engagements with the authorities on this will certainly help to ease concerns.
They said many businesses have reached the end of the line and are in dire need of life support.
Malaysia Retail Chain Association president Shirley Tay said it has been difficult for many retailers and many have lost hope. The delay in allowing business sectors to reopen will severely aggravate the current dire situation. It is worrying that we cannot ascertain the timeframe of when there will be a relaxation for businesses, she added.
Ms Tay urged the government to consider allowing more businesses to reopen to customers who have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.
Pan Malaysia Koo Soo Restaurants and Chefs Association vice-president Ringo Kaw called for dine-in to be allowed, but limited to only patrons who have been vaccinated.
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PETALING JAYA: Industry leaders are urging the government to let then have a say before standard operating procedures (SOPs) for businesses are drawn up.
They claim that the current situation for the ongoing MCO had issues and created confusion about carrying out economic activities.
In a virtual media conference on Saturday (Jan 30), Industries Unite MCO 2.0 group coordinator Datuk Irwin Cheong said the group came to a general consensus that they want engagement with the authorities.
According to them, the government s instructions with regard to mid-stream and down-stream businesses were not clear.
Industries Unite MCO 2.0 is a loose group of SMEs from various industries.
PETALING JAYA: Many companies are still unsure whether they are allowed to operate after the latest movement control order went into effect on Wednesday, with the list constantly changing.
However, business owners and associations said the process of obtaining the notification letter from the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) to be allowed to operate was a straightforward one.
Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) executive director Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan said companies were able to apply for the letter, which allows workers to travel to work during the MCO period, through a dedicated website.
“Previously, workers only needed a letter from the company to allow them to travel, but this time around, the authorities also require a letter from Miti.