Selangor Journal
Street hawker Ismail Bahari, 34, preparing the food for his customers at his stall in Ampang, on January 14, 2021. — Picture by FIKRI YUSOF/SELANGORKINI

Opposition MPs urge review of eateries’ operating hours after 8pm

SHAH ALAM, Jan 18 — A group of Opposition MPs has urged the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government to review the standard operating procedure (SOP) and allow food and beverages outlets to operate after 8pm.

In a statement co-signed by 21 Opposition member of parliaments today, the MPs said compared to the first movement control order (MCO) imposed last year, the traders may be more badly affected now as they are forced to bear the payment of rent and workers’ salaries without a moratorium like before.

“We urge the National Security Council (NSC) to immediately improve this SOP as it affects traders who can only depend on their daily wages for a living.

“We urge the PN government to allow all food and beverage outlets to operate as stated in their business license and not be limited to 8pm, considering that dining-in is already prohibited and the sale of food is restricted to takeaway, drive-thru, or home delivery,” the statement read.

The MPs said that allowing traders to operate according to their business license will help revive their economy, generate income for food delivery riders, and encourage people to stay home as they can place orders from home without being limited to 8pm.

They also said that the current operating hours for food and beverage outlets make it difficult for people who need to buy food after working hours.

“In addition, we also urge the Government to extend the moratorium for at least another six months,” the statement added.

The group of MPs include:

1. Penampang MP Datuk Darell Leiking
2. Muar MP Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman
3. Sepanggar MP Mohd Azis Jamman
4. Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh
5. Bakri MP Yeo Bee Yin
6. Selangau MP Baru Bian
7. Sungai Buloh MP Sivarasa Rasiah
8. Pulai MP Salahuddin Ayub
9. Kubang Pasu MP Amiruddin Hamzah
10. Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching
11. Kota Belud MP Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis
12. Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar
13. Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad
14. Simpang Renggam MP Dr Maszlee Malik
15. Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah
16. Kluang MP Wong Shu Qi
17. Seputeh MP Teresa Kok
18. Kuala Selangor MP Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad
19. Gopeng MP Dr Lee Boon Chye
20. Batu Kawan MP Kasthuriraani Patto
21. Merbok MP Nor Azrina Surip @ Nurin Aina

On Thursday, Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said despite complaints from operators and workers, the decision for eateries to close by 8pm would remain under the second MCO, which was enforced on January 13 and set to end on January 26.

Ismail Sabri on January 12 had announced that all food outlets, which include restaurants, food courts, kiosks and hawker stalls, are only allowed to operate from 6am to 8pm daily during the MCO.

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