SIBU, May 26: The new standard operating procedures (SOP) that states that all business owners and shopping complexes are only allowed to let those categorised as ‘low risk’ and ‘casual contact low risk’ to step foot into their premises is something “we have no choice but to follow.”
Manager of Sing Kwong Supermarket, John Yip said this new SOP which takes effect from May 25 to June 7, is a big challenge for businesses to follow.
“The government is implementing it and we have no choice but to follow, although it is very difficult,” he said.
Yip said it was not easy to check on the MySejahtera status of all customers as there are always some who dislike it.
“Time and time again when we tell customers to put on their mask or to wear it properly, some of them showed an angry look. It is even harder now as we are required to check their health status via their MySejahtera app,” he said.
He added that there are customers who are not tech savvy and have to rely on manual registration on the logbook provided before entering a premises.
“If they don’t have the MySejahtera app, how can we check on their health status?” he asked.
He believed that his supermarket will have to turn away customers either because of their high risk health status or when their health status is unknown.
“We are already facing a very hard time during this pandemic. And to stop people from entering our premises, will be a double blow for us,” he worried.
A cafe operator surnamed Tang is on the same page with Yip.
Tang said the government should not just come up with new SOPs and asked business operators to enforce it.
“If the government wants to introduce new SOP guidelines, they should be the one to enforce it and not pass the enforcement to us. In this case, they should appoint others to do the checking on the health status of the people on MySejahtera. Of course, it cannot do it as a lot of enforcement staff is needed,” he said.
Tang added that business operators would still comply with this new SOP but “don’t blame us if something happens” such as people refusing to have their health status check but insist on entering the premises. — DayakDaily
