Who says the performing arts cannot join the fight against Covid-19?
The newly-built Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre (PJPac), which had its official launch postponed in May because of the pandemic situation, has now been converted into a full-fledged industry vaccination centre (PPVIN) equipped with comprehensive facilities and professional healthcare providers, with the capacity to administer 1,000 vaccines daily.
The performing arts venue, located at 1Utama shopping centre in Petaling Jaya, has been closed since May 7 due to the movement control order (MCO). But that didn’t stop this new creative arts hub from playing a role in the national vaccination rollout.
PETALING JAYA: Members of the retail sector are appealing to Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari to immediately lift the lockdown in the state and to only implement movement controls based on locality and specific buildings to prevent an economic disaster.
In a joint appeal, retailers urged Amirudin to save the state s economy from unnecessary damage due to the imposition of what they called an unnecessary lockdown of almost the entire state.
“We are at a loss as to why the lockdowns in Kuala Lumpur are so surgically determined and confined to (particular) buildings, while for Selangor the sledgehammer approach of locking down almost the entire state was implemented.
Retail associations hope malls and outlets can reopen after 10 pct vaccination achieved 03 Jul 2021 / 13:57 H. Pix for representational purpose only. -Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: The retail associations in Malaysia hope that all malls and retail outlets can be reopened by July 15 or once the 10 per cent vaccination target is achieved, whichever is earlier.
Malaysia Shopping Malls Association (PPK Malaysia) president Tan Sri Teo Chiang Kok said malls or retail operators have been valiantly struggling for the past 16 months with critical cash flow, and any prolongation would simply be the final knell for businesses and the industry as a whole.
“We truly appreciate and are relieved that the vaccination programme has been accelerated and that more than 10 per cent of the population would likely be vaccinated with two doses by July 15, 2021,” he said during the virtual press conference on the urgent and desperate plea to reopen the retail sector.
PETALING JAYA: Members of the retail sector have made an “urgent and desperate” plea to the government for all malls and retail outlets to reopen by July 15 or when the 10% Covid-19 vaccination target is achieved.
They said that as the shopping mall and retail industry contributed significantly to the economy, all efforts had to be taken to preserve the performance of the sector.
Malaysian Shopping Malls Association president Tan Sri Teo Chiang Kok said that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned against lockdowns, as they result in extreme economic damage, and that a flexible approach to managing the pandemic must be undertaken.