By Ling Hui
KUCHING, May 22: Hawkers selling food are urging the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) to allow them to dine-in at their own stalls without getting compounded as it is unreasonable for them to order take-aways.
This was brought up by Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng when he noted the difficult position the local hawkers are in when SDMC implemented the “no dine-ins” rule in the whole of Sarawak during Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).
“Some hawkers have given their feedback to me. When they are operating their stalls like selling kolo mee or laksa, of course they themselves have to eat.
“So, they are hoping that when they sit down to have their quick lunch, they will not be compounded for dining in.
“They hope that they could be given green light to eat at their own stalls with proper social distancing with one person occupying one table,” he said in his weekly Facebook live session today.
He was telling this to SDMC advisor Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian who was one of his invited guests of the day, in the hope that the latter could highlight the matter to SDMC.
In response, Dr Sim, who is also Minister for Local Government and Housing, agreed that these hawkers should be given exception to eat at their own stalls.
“I think this is very reasonable because they are selling food themselves and it is not considered as dine-in.
“The enforcement team, when issuing compounds, should also be logical and sensible. I will bring this up to SDMC and inform the enforcement teams,” he added. — DayakDaily
