RESIDENTS and business owners in Klang, Selangor, are worried over the partial lockdown which took effect from midnight due to the recent spike in Covid-19 cases.

Although they credit the government for taking a bold move to curb the spread of the virus, several told The Malaysian Insight they are bracing themselves for a “long two-week” period which could affect their livelihood.

Many were critical of the government’s decision to impose the conditional movement-control order (CMCO) following the recent record of more than 90 new Covid-19 cases in the district.

Under the CMCO, movement in and out of the district is not allowed. There will be no dine-ins at restaurants while eateries, grocery shops and convenience stores are only allowed to operate between 6am and 6pm.

Business operators have started complaining as they were looking forward to the pre-Deepavali sales while office workers who work outside Klang said they are contemplating taking no-pay leave as they cannot afford temporary accommodation outside Klang.

Mahinder Singh, a textile shop owner said businesses in Little India, Tengku Kelana, are bracing themselves for losses during the partial lockdown.

He said with Deepavali around the corner, closure of businesses is going to impact on their revenue and there is nothing they can do about it.

“Only essential businesses are allowed to operate. Textile businesses like mine are ordered to close and with Deepavali around the corner, we’re looking at huge losses.

“There are many textile shops here and they, like me, would have brought new materials, anticipating good sales during the Deepavali period but looks like that is in tatters now.

“Furthermore, we are not going to be exempted from paying rentals and other payments during the two-week partial lockdown. So, we’re doomed,” Mahinder told The Malaysian Insight.

People may fear coming to Klang even after the CMCO is lifted but there is a possibility the partial lockdown period can be extended if the number of new infections continues to rise, he said.

Flower trader P. Arriammal, 55, said she is looking at a bleak two weeks during the partial lockdown, as she is not allowed to operate her business.

Arriammal, who had been selling flowers in Klang for 40 years, is one of the 20 other flower traders in Little India, Klang.

She said her business just recovered from the previously imposed nationwide MCO and another partial lockdown this time is not helping her at all.

“I just managed to settle all my debts I took during the MCO period because I had no money to survive.

“Although the government gave some aid, it was not enough to sustain financially.

“Now, another round of lockdown and since our business is considered non-essential, we were told to close,” said Arriammal, adding that she is expecting to lose nearly RM2,000 during the two weeks CMCO.

Another flower trader, Gomathy Shanmugam, 52, said the partial lockdown would severely impact her, as her family depend on the income from her business.

Gomathy said with her husband losing his bus contract during the MCO period, her family rely solely on her income from selling flowers.

“Two weeks without business is going to affect our rice bowl.

“My husband and kids are now reliant on the income I take home but I wonder what we’re going to do now since I can’t open my shop,” said the mother of three.

Restaurant Arafat owner Mohd Fairus Abdul Kudus, 44, said restaurants operating without dine-in customers are set to lose 30% to 40% of their income.

The shorter operating hours during the CMCO will also affect their revenue, he said.

“The operation hours and new SOP, including no dine-ins, are going to bring our business down,” Fairus said.

Despite banking on delivery orders, Fairus is sceptical if people would actually order food from restaurants during such critical times.

“Most would want to stay safe, hence they might just cook at home. Although we do deliveries, we expect the orders to decrease during this period.”

Worries all round

Senior citizens and residents working outside Klang are among the most affected with the CMCO in force.

A resident, who only wanted to be known as Lau, said he has no choice but to put up at his cousin’s place in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, so that he would be able to go to work without any hassle.

“I have my own business and I need to travel in and out (of Klang). If I stay here, it would be a hassle for me to do that. What if the police don’t allow me to travel?

“So, although it was hard, I had to convince my cousin who is living alone, to allow me to stay with him for two weeks,” he said.

Another resident Ahmad, an employee at a private company, lives in Bukit Tinggi, Klang, but works in Shah Alam.

Ahmad said he had to take unpaid leave because the employer wanted him to continue working or risk losing his job.

“I can’t work from home because my company has its own system. And that is why I was given an option, either move out from Klang and rent in Shah Alam or go on unpaid leave.”

Ahmad said he tried to find a room to rent but can’t because of financial constraints.

“I’ve just started working with this company last month. Since I can’t find a room, I opted to go on unpaid leave because a salary cut is better than having no job.

“Also, I had to consider my mother, who will be living alone if I move out. She doesn’t have a car and that worries me.”

Dzulkefly Ehsan, 29, who lives in Bukit Kuda and works in Damansara, said he is lucky because his company understands his situation and gave him a choice, either to work from home or temporarily reside in a house provided by the employer.

“At first, I was worried when the CMCO was announced. I thought about the difficulties of working from home because I needed a server to store all my work files.

“So, I asked my boss what choices I have,” he said.

Dzulkefly, who works as a video editor, said he will live in company housing, as it’s easier to work there.

Another resident from Klang, Hajar Rahman, 55, who lives in Kg Yadi, expressed his concern about getting food stock during the CMCO period.

“Even now I couldn’t buy much. I went to the store earlier and most of the goods are sold out.” – October 9, 2020.