By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, March 17: All coffeeshops under Sarawak Coffeeshop and Restaurant Owners’ Association will observe the federal government’s restricted movement order by only offering takeaways.
Its deputy chairman Tong Ing Kok told DayakDaily that all coffeeshops are not allowed to let their customers stay on their premises to dine in-house.
“Under the restricted movement order, we are allowed to operate but only ‘semi-operation’, meaning we can sell food to the customers by letting them take away the food.
“We are not allowed to let them sit in the coffeeshops and eat the food there and then. Customers are also not allowed to sit around and chit chat as all social meetings are not allowed under the restricted movement order.
“We are following the directive from our association headquarters which has sent us a notification telling us to continue our business in a ‘set-operation’ manner,” said Tong who is also Sibu Sarawak Coffeeshop and Restaurant Owners’ Association chairman,
Tong said businesses will be badly affected but there is nothing much they could do in view of the threat of Covid-19.
“We will do our part in cooperating with the government so that the disease may be put under control,” said Tong.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin during a special address on Monday evening, announced that the federal government will be implementing a restricted movement order from March 18 to 31.
“This includes the general prohibition of mass movements and gatherings across the country including religious, sports, social and cultural activities.
“To enforce this prohibition, all houses of worship and business premises must be closed except for supermarkets, public markets, convenience stores and convenience stores selling everyday necessities,” said Muhyiddin. — DayakDaily
