SMALL-TIME business operators are in dire straits after the two-week movement-control order (MCO) announcement and many are now wondering how much longer they can sustain.

Without any income in the past six days, the traders are now looking at the government to help them with their bank loans until the situation returns to normal.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said yesterday the government will come up with an economic stimulus package to fight the impact of Covid-19 and won’t neglect small businesses and low-income earners.

However, many small and medium traders told The Malaysian Insight that they have incurred huge losses in just a few days after the restriction order was put in place and are now hoping for more aid from the government.

“My business is badly affected,” said Muhammad Arif Asyraff Rusli who runs a food truck in Shah Alam.

“On a normal day, I can earn RM1,000 daily from Foodpanda orders and walk-in customers but after the restriction was imposed, I have earned nothing.

“I have bills to settle. I hope the government will find a way to reach an agreement with banks to postpone certain loan payments for at least six months,” said the 29-year-old.

Kuala Lumpur Hawkers and Petty Traders’ Association chairman Ang Say Tee concurs.

“I hope all mortgages, car loans and store loans can be suspended for six months. The MCO has caused many hawkers to suffer as they cannot operate like they used to,” Ang said.

“I am hoping to hear some good news from the government by March 30. We are facing a tough time at the moment, as we have no income.”

In the meantime, Arif said he and some other small traders will depend on their wives’ EPF after the government allowed account holders under 55 years old to withdraw RM500 a month from for 12 months.

“But RM500 is not enough if the problem prolongs. If we cannot earn an income in the coming weeks, many of us will face huge problems.”

Pasar malam trader Hufaidah Sudin from Seberang Perai in Penang said her daily income of RM300 is now gone following the MCO.

“I have six children who are still schooling. My husband is a store helper but he too, can’t work. So, we have no income now.

“We are surviving on our savings. We hope the government will help us soon. If this situation goes on, I don’t know how we will survive,” said the 43-year-old.

A hawker in Machang Bubuk, also in Penang, Hassan Mat Sidek had to close his economy rice stall following the MCO.

“I know I can sell takeaway food but people are not working, plus I am afraid of the virus.

“For six days I have had no income. To buy food or to buy things for my family, I had to use my savings.”

The government imposed the MCO, which is effective until March 31, to curb the spread of Covid-19. Under the order, people are prohibited from being outdoors, with many non-essential services and offices ordered shut.

People are only allowed outside to buy food, essentials and for emergency medical reasons.

The MCO has also badly affected other businesses.

Zaini Mohd Farouk, 30, who operates a car rental business is suffering.

“Who would want to rent a car when people are prohibited from leaving the house? My cars are not taken for days now, but I still need to pay the loans.

“The government is not helping us. We don’t have EPF accounts. I have to ask my parents and friends to pay the car loans,” he said, adding that he finds other businesses like groceries  and pharmacies profiting in the current situation.

Caterer Pannir has earned nothing in the past six days.

His clients, who booked his services for weddings, are forced to reschedule or cancel because of the MCO.

“A few rescheduled while some asked for refund because they are not sure of the new date.

“So I literally have zero income for this two weeks but I still have to pay my staff and other things like my loan, house rental and more,” he said, adding that this is the wedding season for Indians.

Pannir said extending the MCO would be disastrous, as not all businesses would be able to cope.

“The impact is on everyone not only the poor. Yes, the poor suffer more but we are also in the middle-income group. When the government makes an announcement, it should be for all.

“The move is a good one but extending it would be disastrous. We depend on bookings from clients during times like this. If we don’t get booking, how are we going to survive and pay the whole lot?”

Pannir also suggested that there be waivers of monthly loan repayments for business operators for a minimum two months, as they need to recoup the losses.

The death toll for Covid-19 in Malaysia climbed to 14 yesterday with 212 new infections, bringing the total number of cases to 1,518. – March 24, 2020.