Reports by ASHLEY TANG, MARTIN CARVALHO, FARIK ZOLKEPLI, LIEW JIA XIAN and GERARD GIMINO
PETALING JAYA: As the Klang Valley moves to Phase Two of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) today, retailers and industry stakeholders say the vaccination status of Malaysians will be strictly enforced to ensure compliance with the government’s standard operating procedure.
Malaysia-Singapore Coffeeshop Proprietors Association president Wong Teu Hoon said its members would continue to ensure strict compliance with the SOP as the Klang Valley moved on to the second phase.
“We will check our patrons’ MySejahtera to see if they have completed their vaccination regime and have passed 14 days since their vaccination before they are allowed to enter the restaurant.
“But there have also been instances where a customer walked in with a doctor’s letter stating that he cannot be vaccinated.
“I do not know what SOP to follow in this situation. But, as of now, we would still only allow those who are fully vaccinated to enter,” he added.
Wong said they would strictly enforce the SOP even if customers who are not fully vaccinated complain of being denied entry.
“I think being summoned by the authorities for breach of SOP is far more financially painful than turning the customer away. We will strictly follow the SOP,” he said.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya will transition to Phase Two of the NRP.
Under Phase Two, Ismail Sabri said cross-district travel between Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya will be allowed and that all roadblocks will be lifted.
Among the activities allowed under Phase Two are inter-district travel for fully vaccinated individuals; interstate travel for long-distance married couples who are fully vaccinated; interstate travel for fully vaccinated parents to see their children under 18; dining-in at eateries for fully vaccinated customers, and intra-state tourism activities involving accommodation in hotels and homestays for fully vaccinated individuals.
He also stated that under Phase Two and Phase Three, barbers, hairdressers and beauty salons will be given additional flexibility.
Malaysian Retailers Association vice-president Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin said people now know that only those fully vaccinated are able to enter certain premises with MySejahtera now making it simpler for retailers to check a person’s vaccination and risk status.
Ameer, who is also Mydin’s managing director, pointed out that those who are not inoculated are still able to enter shopping malls as there are essential services such as supermarkets in the mall where the unvaccinated can still go to.
“In Mydin, we are taking a proactive approach. It is complicated for every store in a mall to check the status of those who come in.
“So, what we do is that whoever is already fully vaccinated is given a sticker so that the stores in the mall do not have to check on their status. In that way, they are able to go anywhere including the food court to dine in. But those who do not have the sticker will only be allowed to go to the supermarket,” he said.
But Ameer believes that the country must move away from the NRP phases as it is confusing.
“What was supposed to be given approval for Phase Four has now been approved for Phase One, so to make it simpler for everyone to understand, all economic sectors should now be allowed to reopen where people will just have to strictly comply with the SOP.
“There shouldn’t be a difference between essential and non-essential services anymore,” he said.
However, there has also been confusion whether only fully vaccinated individuals can enter certain business premises as seen on the NSC website for Phase Two that was updated on Sept 3.
Michael Poh, president of the Malaysian Hairdressing Association and United Asia Hairdresser Association, said they will follow the current NSC’s SOP for Phase Two if an updated SOP is not released.
“Under Phase Two according to the SOP, those who are not fully vaccinated are able to enter into hair salons. But there are some members who strictly enforce the ‘only fully vaccinated individuals rule’ when it comes to allowing entry. This is to protect the well-being of their customers and the employees,” he said.
Poh said they will check the vaccination and risk status of the customer before they are allowed into the hair salon.
“Every customer has to show their MySejahtera status first. We are not a supermarket so we are able to physically check each and every one of our customers,” he said.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Association of Wellness and Spa president Dorothea Justin Moduying urged the government to allow at least the 433 members that are registered under the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry to reopen alongside beauty salons.
She said they are unable to wait until Phase Three or Four as the industry has suffered massive financial losses.
If they are allowed to reopen, Dorothea said the industry will strictly follow the guidelines by allowing only fully vaccinated people to enter its premises.
“All staff members will have to be vaccinated too and we will avoid crowding in spas by following appointment-based visits only as per the previous guidelines,” she said.
To ensure that those entering the premises are fully vaccinated, she said they will check the customer’s vaccination status on MySejahtera and, should the app not work, customers will have to furnish their vaccination card.
