AS the movement control order (MCO) enters its ninth day, 95 percent of business premises in Penang island are found to have adhered to the order.
This was revealed by Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang during the MBPP regular meeting that was held through a teleconference today.
“We got the percentage after the Licensing Department had conducted checks on a total of 8,387 business premises on the island as of March 25.
“We will be only satisfied when there is 100% of adherence to the MCO, so we will keep working until we achieve that,” said Yew.
Yew said apart from the temporary closure order imposed on the roadside hawkers at four marketplaces, namely Air Itam, Jelutong, Jalan Perak and Bayan Baru, the MBPP has also come up with a stricter enforcement.
“Chicken slaughtering is not allowed in the market during the MCO period, only clean poultry is allowed for sale.
“Other measures include limiting the number of visitors inside a market, allowing them to go in via one entrance and go out via one exit, and permitting not more than two customers per stall at one time.
“Traders should operate their businesses on rotation (in high-density markets) to reduce the number of traders in the market as well as the visitors.
“Besides that, we see that hand sanitisers are used.
“If the business operators and visitors fail to comply with the MCO, especially on social distancing rule, we will have to shut down that market,” he added.
The mayor also thanked the state government for allocating RM75 million for the Covid-19 economic stimulus package which would also benefit MBPP’s frontliners.
“We (MBPP) have 2,780 staff members who are out there contributing their services in the 3D (dirty, dangerous and difficult) jobs.
“Together with them, we also have our ‘Covid-19 MBPP Special Squad’ comprising 150 people who are working together with the police and army to ensure that the people adhere to the MCO.
“Thus I urge everyone to stay at home and give their full cooperation by abiding the MCO for the sake of their loved ones as well as the country,” he said.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix courtesy of MBPP