JUST as business was picking up after earlier movement restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19 were lifted, tourism operators in Selangor’s green zones are now worried they may have to close down for good with a second conditional movement-control order (CMCO) in place.

Many are still burdened by debts incurred from closing their businesses since March after the MCO was followed by the first CMCO. Domestic tourism was only allowed from June under the recovery MCO (RMCO).

In Semenyih, which has no Covid-19 cases and is a green zone, a campsite and resort operator who only wanted to be known as Pak Mat, told The Malaysian Insight of his plight since March.

“I lost RM20,000 in six months because I allowed customers to cancel their bookings and returned their deposits.

“I’m also still paying my five employees half their salaries because they all have dependents to care for.

“I’m bracing for my business to deteriorate again,” said the 57-year-old, who closed his business after Selangor fell under CMCO last Wednesday.

The CMCO for Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya is from October 14 to 27. In Sabah, it is from October 13 to 26, and in Labuan, from October 17 to 30.

Interstate travel is banned during this period, which means local operators will be hit just as they had begun to enjoy a recovery in domestic tourism.

Tourism spots, such as Pak Mat’s campsite, are among the sectors that fall under the category of leisure, recreation and culture, which are barred during the CMCO.

According to the Selangor Health Department’s map of how infections were distributed throughout the state from October 2 to 15, Semenyih is a green zone with zero cases.

Health is priority

In Hulu Semenyih, also a green zone, a resort operator, who wanted to be known as Mona, must also decide whether to shutter her business.

Mona has had to refund and cancel all bookings made between October 14 until the end of the month for her resort, where rooms are styled as traditional kampung houses.

“Now, customers with reservations for November are also asking me to return their deposits.

“If the situation continues, I am thinking of either closing the resort or reducing its size, and leasing out parts of the land for other purposes,” said Mona, 47.

Although the cumulative number of cases in Selangor is more than 500, many districts in the state are green zones, prompting outcry from the state government when the CMCO was announced last Monday.

The bulk of Selangor’s cases are in the Petaling and Klang districts, which are both red zones. Gombak and Hulu Langat are also red zones, but with fewer cases compared with Petaling and Klang.

Selangor urged the National Security Council to reconsider the blanket CMCO for the state, but was rejected.

Restaurant owner Rozi Jamaludin, 36, said he was grateful the current CMCO allowed dine-in customers, even if more social distancing was required.

“It will reduce the number of customers at any one time and income will also be slightly reduced. I’m hoping there will be customers who will order takeaway,” he said at Kg Pasir Baru, Hulu Semenyih.

A food stall operator who wanted to be known as Pak Tam, chooses to see the positive side of restrictions, even though his roadside business in Sg Gabai is affected.

He said many of his customers are cyclists who come to Hulu Semenyih to enjoy the countryside but they will not be coming now as interstate travel is banned.

“This, however, can be positive. If they are coming from red zones, then there is the possibility of bringing the virus into green zones like this area,” Pak Tam said.

“For sure, our local tourism industry will be affected, but our health is the priority.” – October 19, 2020.