By Karen Bong
KUCHING, June 1: Optical stores, launderettes including self-service launderettes, pawn shops and variety stores selling daily essentials are allowed to operate from 6am to 8pm under the current Movement Control Order (MCO) in Sarawak.
However, mobile stores offering counter sales and retail services are still not permitted.
As per the latest MCO standard operating procedures (SOP), grocery stores, supermarkets, day markets, wet markets, wholesale markets and farmers’ market are among the essential services that will continue to operate throughout MCO.
As for shopping malls and hypermarkets, only the sections providing food and daily essentials are allowed to be opened.
Other essential services and sectors permitted during MCO in accordance with latest SOP and regulations are restricted to hardware, electronic and electrical, packaging and printing, healthcare, automotive sales, maintenance and repairs, health and safety equipment, pet food, agriculture products and other retail outlets approved by the local authorities or Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) with approval from State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC).
Meanwhile, dining-in and “park and dine” services continued to be banned in eateries including restaurants, bistros, cafes, coffeeshops and food and beverage stalls. Only takeaway, drive-thru and deliveries are allowed.
The critical essential sectors allowed to operate in this MCO in accordance with respective SOP are prisons, temporary detention centres, immigration depot, lockups, utilities including electricity and water supply, government and public service, ports and airports, fuels and lubricants including petrol stations and food supply chain.
As for telecommunication services, operations are limited to administrative works, servicing, repair, operation, call centre and data centre.
Broadcasting and information, judicial, legal and professional bodies, banking and financial including insurance, Takaful and community credit (pawn shops only), post, courier and logistic, solid waste and sewage management, industry and businesses related to security and defence, manufacturing and production, ship building and repair, logging and timber, fishery, agriculture and plantation, construction and renovation as well as land, sea and air including ehailing and food deliveries are permitted to operate.
Hotels and lodgings are allowed to operate for quarantine, isolation and essential works only and not for tourism purposes. — DayakDaily
