By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Aug 13: Photography studios, florists as well as stores selling baby products, music instruments, jewellery, watches, cosmetics, decorations, religious products, and bicycles and repairs have been added to the list of essential services and are allowed to reopen in districts under Phase 2 of National Recovery Plan (NRP) in Sarawak.
The districts under NRP Phase 2 are Kuching, Lundu, Bau, Serian, Tebedu, Samarahan, Asajaya and Simunjan.
As per latest standard operating procedure (SOP) for Phase 2 NRP which will take effect from Aug 14 onwards, the operation hours for economic and industries maintained from 6am to 10pm.
Note that hair salons can provide basic haircut services only, while perming, colouring and other services which require longer time are still not allowed.
Majority of retail businesses offering essentials such as variety stores, supermarkets, hypermarkets, departmental stores as well as various markets including wholesale market, weekend markets and night markets may continue their normal operations with workforce capped at 50 per cent.
Under Phase 2 NRP, shopping malls are only allowed to open sections of their premises which sell essential goods.
Restaurants, eateries, food courts, food stalls, food trucks, roadside hawkers, mobile hawkers, hawker centres and food kiosks will operate as usual including providing dining-in services but these businesses must comply with the SOPs for food and beverage sector set by Ministry of Local Government and Housing (MLGH).
Other businesses listed as essential services in the economic sector which are allowed to operate include car wash, fashion apparel and footwear stores, laundry and DIY laundries, mobile shops including for retail, repair and bill payment, sports equipment and healthcare stores, optical stores as well as pet stores.
Furniture stores, hardware stores as well as households, kitchenware and home appliances stores may continue to roll up their shutters.
Other businesses permitted to operate include stores providing healthcare equipment, safety equipment, electronic, electrical and ICT, cleaning, grass cutting, pest control, agriculture products (including nursery and fishing equipment), automotive accessories (including sales, maintenance and repair as well as packaging and printing). — DayakDaily
