Seputeh MP Teresa Kok has called on Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa to allow petty traders to operate at open-air morning markets during the total lockdown, which is in force until June 14.
Kok said that closing outdoor markets while opening those indoors was a case of double standards.
“Isn’t the operation of the outdoor morning markets the same as the operation of hawker centres, indoor markets, and bazaars?
“In fact, the ventilation at outdoor morning markets is better than the indoor markets and hawker centres; so it is safer for customers,” she said in a statement today.
She added that shopping in indoor markets is the same as shopping in a shopping mall with closed ventilation, where Covid-19 transmission is easier.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that poor ventilation increased the risk of Covid-19 infection.
Likewise, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said that outdoor spaces - with proper social distancing - had less risk for Covid-19 transmission.
According to the National Security Council’s SOP guidelines dated June 2, daily and public markets are allowed to carry out usual operations from 6am to 2pm subject to local authority approval.
However, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) ruled that outdoor markets are to remain closed while indoor markets in the Federal Territory are able to operate.
Kok said while she understood the rationale behind the decision, guidelines during the full movement control order (MCO) must be reasonable.
“I understand the government’s intention to reduce the chances of people gathering in order to reduce the spread of Covid-19, but all MCO directives must be issued rationally, to prevent double standards,” she said.
She added that what is important is to ensure that traders comply with the government’s SOPs. - Mkini
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