SIBU, March 23: Traders at the Sibu Central Market are feeling the bite from the movement control order (MCO) to curb the spread of Covid-19 which is now in its sixth day of a two-week period.
Business has dropped drastically, forcing traders to discard their perishable goods which they are unable to sell.
They are now appealing to the government for quick financial relief to help them weather this turbulent period.
Sibu Vegetable Planters’ Association honorary chairman Kong Hua Kuong revealed that vegetable sellers’ business has halved as compared to trading on a normal day.
“We are suffering big losses since the MCO was enforced. If the government can help us, it would be very good like what the Selangor government is doing,” he said when met today.
He disclosed that the more than 1,000 traders here are incurring losses as Sibu Municipal Council has enforced an alternate-day trading schedule during the MCO to contain the spread of Covid-19.
It has been reported that amongst measures announced by the Selangor government as part of a stimulus package to alleviate the impact of Covid-19, it is deferring rental payment for a month involving 80,000 traders and hawkers within Selangor estimated to cost RM12 million, and allocating RM40 million to be distributed as special cash aid of RM500 each to affected traders and hawkers.
Meanwhile, fish seller, Louis Lee, 65, is also calling on the state government to assist traders. He said his business has dropped by about 30 per cent.
“From morning to afternoon, I can only sell 50kg of fish now. Fish easily get stale and I will have to discard them. The government should pity us by giving us financial assistance,” he said, adding that the traders have no choice but to risk their lives to earn a living. — DayakDaily
