By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Sept 12: Since the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, Sarawak has finally made masking optional indoors and outdoors, effective Sept 7.
However, the debate whether masking should be compulsory or optional continues, especially when Kuching South City Council (MBKS) has announced that it will make a separate decision from the government whether to enforce or terminate the wearing of face masks at hawker centres under the council’s jurisdiction.
If MBKS decides to reinstate the masking rule, hawkers and traders operating their businesses at the centres, along with the members of the public, will have to put on their face masks at all times.
A check to Medan Niaga Satok saw almost all hawkers and visitors casually talking and doing the ‘tug-of-war’ bargain without their face masks, which led to DayakDaily conducting a vox populi.
To fishmonger Muliadi Jarawi, the decision to wear a face mask lies with the individual. Any individual who is worried about their health is free to wear masks.
“And if they think their immune system is strong and don’t need to wear the mask to protect themselves, they can choose to do so.
“The masking rule may be suitable for indoors, but it is not necessary to be implemented in wet markets or hawker centres which are mostly located in open spaces,” Muliadi said.
Grocery store operator Alan Pang made his decision based on practicality. He said wearing face masks makes it quite hard for sellers and buyers to communicate because wet markets are known to be busy and noisy.
“Wearing masks also makes us hot, and it becomes burdensome since we (traders) have to operate from early morning until evening.
“The number of Covid-19 cases has decreased, and we already have vaccines. Hence, (face masks) not necessary anymore,” said Pang.
Stall operator Joy Joseph agreed with Pang and held that despite MBKS’s good intentions, the effort would not serve any purpose in curbing the Covid-19 spread.
“MBKS has good intentions to enforce the masking rule, but I believe that such a move alone will not be enough to reach its goal of curbing the Covid-19 transmission since we do not know where the visitors to the hawker centres come from and that the virus can still be transmitted when we have skin contact when paying for the items and so on,” said Joy.
Unlike businessmen, private individuals opined that masking should be mandatory with traders when conducting their business.
Private sector worker Rynna Sha’erra supported MBKS’ initiative, believing that it was one deriving from the council’s concern over the general health of Kuching folk.
“I support MBKS’ idea to enforce the masking rule because we never know the health condition of those visiting the hawker centres, especially with the risk they might pass on to the hawkers, who are mostly elderly people.
“If MBKS enforces such a rule, it only means that the council is concerned over the health of the city folk,” said Rynna.
Another private sector worker Nura Valentiana Lorna, like Rynna, is also in full support of MBKS.
“Despite moving towards the endemic phase, we know that the Covid-19 virus can mutate. Therefore, the risk is still there. So, I believe that MBKS is doing the right thing to curb another outbreak of Covid-19,” said Nura.
While Federation of Chinese Associations of Sarawak president Dato Richard Wee held the view that masking should be optional for the general public and all eateries, Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers’ Association (Sheda) Kuching chairman Dato Sim Kiang Chiok believed otherwise.
“The outcome of the masking rule shows that the infection rates are controllable, and our hospital can cope with infections under Categories 3, 4 and 5.
“But I was infected (with Covid-19) last week despite being fully vaccinated and double boosted (booster shots), and I had to be isolated for five days. Thus, I believe the masking rule is still important to prevent infection and loss of productivity until we have a better and updated vaccine or when the virus is diminished,” said Sim.
Like Sim, Petra Jaya Hawkers Association president Mohamad Khairuzie Bolhassan agreed that masking is still necessary for traders.
“At our Metrocity N6 Youth Night Market or Metrocity Uptown, we encourage our traders to wear face masks, and most of them abide by such call.
“Thus, we are on the same page with MBKS. If we (traders of a night market) are committed to curbing the spread of Covid-19 despite being in open spaces, what more of hawker centres which are more enclosed spaces,” said Mohd Khairuzie. — DayakDaily
