MALAYSIANS in the low-income group or bottom 40 (B40) are bracing themselves for more hardship as Putrajaya’s 14-day control-movement order takes effect today to stem the spread of Covid-19, which claimed two lives yesterday.

Their already low incomes will be slashed further with the control-movement order as most of them are in the non-essential services category and are forced to close their business, they told The Malaysian Insight.

Putrajaya said on Monday all non-essential services are closed. Essential services to remain open are water, electricity, telecommunications, post, transport, oil and gas, banking, healthcare, pharmacies, prisons, ports, airports, security, defence and food.

The control-movement order, which ends on March 31, was imposed after Malaysia registered 315 cases on Sunday and Monday, bringing the total to 553. The current figure stands at 673 infections with two deaths.

The Malaysian Insight spoke to at least 10 individuals in the B40 group in the Klang Valley, Penang and Sarawak and almost all of them said they are expecting their incomes to be sliced by half before the order is lifted on March 31.

A wan tan noodle seller, who only gave his name as Kam Chuan, told The Malaysian Insight he has no choice but to close his stall in Taman Len Seng, Cheras, today as he does not expect any customer.

“I can understand their (customers) fears. But I am more worried about my family,” he said.

Kam Chuan, 50, said he could easily make a clean profit of RM100 a day but that will be gone now.

“My wife died from cancer five years ago and I have four children to look after. How am I going to fend for them?”

Hairstylist Angel Cheah questioned if Putrajaya has a back-up plan for people like her in the B40 group who are going to be affected by the control-movement order.

Cheah, 35, works in a salon in Balakong and earns RM1,500 a month. She sets aside RM300 for her parents’ medical bills each month.

Her employer told her that the salon will be closed until March 31, which would mean she will only be paid half-month.

“How am I going to survive on RM750? I can’t fault my employer as he still has to pay his RM10,000 rental each month,” she said.

She hoped the government will look into their plight and come up with some back-up plan.

Yoga teacher Susan Tam, 42, said some of her clients have taken a break and the studios are closed.

“So, I would say I lose 50% of earnings from face-to-face or physical classes. I am not in such a bad state compared to some other freelancers, as I have a part-time teaching stint which has been turned online so technically, we still get paid but that offers a small amount to my total actual income.

“I have to rely on savings for household bills, maintenance fees and essential items. My husband is retired and you could say I am the sole breadwinner.

“We don’t have sick pay to cover us or medical insurance. So when we don’t work, we don’t earn any money,” Tam said.

No dine-in

Putrajaya also said while restaurants can remain open, they are only for takeaways and food delivery through service operators, such as GrabFood or Foodpanda. No dine-in is allowed.

This rule has badly affected Rosman Ahmad, 41, a chicken seller in Permatang Pauh, Penang.

Although he operates his stall by the roadside, he also supplies chickens to five restaurants and canteens in four factories.

“From what I know, the factories will be closed and the restaurants cannot have dine-in patrons. That would mean a severe drop in customers and drop in demand, too, for my chickens.

“What is going to happen now? Before this, I could easily earn RM200 a day, now I really don’t know,” said the father of three schoolchildren.

Hasan Mat Sidek a food seller in Machang Bubuk, Penang, is also bracing for hard times. He operates his stall in the village and is not sure what the next two weeks will bring.

His customers are mostly workers from nearby factories and now wonders what will happen to his business if the factories shutter for the next two weeks.

“We are daily wage-earners. This move is going to affect us badly,” said the 62-year-old.

In Kuching, Sarawak, freelance petition writer Hishamuddin Hasbie said the control movement order will definitely have an impact on his income.

The father of a five-year-old daughter told The Malaysian Insight he earns between RM2,000 and RM3,000 and if the two-week period prolongs, he is in trouble.

“For now, I have some savings stashed away but if the government extends the order, then it will definitely affect my income.”

Hishamuddin, 35, operates from his home but he needs to go out to meet his clients.

“My meetings are usually at car parks, restaurants. With this control-movement order, I will have problems meeting clients. I have to accept this, as mine is a non-essential service.”

Zakiah Abdullah is already feeling the pinch of not working for the next weeks as the boutique she works in at Bangi had to close because of the control-movement order.

The mother of two young children, ages two and four, said she is affected as she has to go on no-pay leave.

“I earn less than RM2,000 and my boss asked us to go on no-paid leave. We work in a SME so that’s why he can’t afford it (to pay us).

“So the management decided on no-pay leave until the end of month.”

Cleaner P. Annammal said staying at home is pointless as her income will be affected.

The widow lives with her two children in the PPR housing in Pantai does not get paid on the days she does not work.

“So how am I going to manage without work for two weeks? My son, who finished SPM and had just started working in a cinema, is also out of a job because of this.

“We are definitely going to have financial issues. Who is going to help us now?” the 50-year-old Annammal asked.

Robiah Rahman, 44, who sells nasi lemak and banana fritters in Kg Kerinchi, is not sure how this movement-control order works.

“They (government) said food can be delivered through delivery service. But mine is a small stall, without delivery service.

“I sell nasi lemak in the morning and pisang goreng in the evening.

“This is my income and now it’s gone. I will have to depend on my husband’s sole income and I have three school-going kids.

“Hopefully this movement-control order is not extended further. If not, it will be worse for us.” – March 18, 2020.