SEAFOOD wholesalers at the Kuala Lumpur wholesale market in Selayang have suffered an almost 50% drop in business after their section was closed last week due to Covid-19 infections at the trading hub.

Meanwhile, fruit and vegetables traders have decided to shut their stalls until all the Covid-19 screening results are back, although their two-day shutdown has ended.

In the meantime, they said customers have also asked for vegetables and seafood to be delivered, as a result of the stringent procedures put in place by the authorities to curb the spread of the virus.

On January 19, a total of 118 cases of Covid-19 were detected at the wholesale market from the vegetable and fish sections, with the latter closed for five days from January 18 for sanitisation.

Fruit and vegetables stalls were then ordered to close January 22-24.

Kuala Lumpur Hoi Seong Fish Wholesaler Association chairman Sing Kian Hock told The Malaysian Insight that business was not back to normal after their closure last week.

He said as a result of the outbreak in the market, the single-day sales volume fell by 50%.

He added that, despite orders from supermarkets and hypermarkets, the sales were still low.

“The other reason is because the vegetable and fish stalls are together. Now with only the fish stalls left open, the customers are not coming to buy. So, we choose to close the business as well,” he said.

Kuala Lumpur Vegetable Wholesalers’ Association president Wong Keng Fatt told The Malaysian Insight that they have decided to close their stalls until all the results are back.

He said from the nearly 2,000 vegetable wholesalers and employees screened, there were still about 100 results still pending.

“We will rest these few days and wait for them to disinfect the area. The supplies for these few days have also been cancelled.”

As a result of the Covid-19 infections in the market, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) said it will tighten entry into the market as part of efforts to contain the pandemic.

Individuals dealing with shop owners, employees and wholesalers must now submit a copy of their Health Ministry-certified Covid-19 screening results with a date not exceeding 14 days before desired entry.

The individual must also pass a body temperature check with temperature not exceeding 37.5°C and register using the MySejahtera application at the market entrance, strictly complying with the standard operating procedure (SOP) outlined by the National Security Council.

Drop-in customers

This new strict procedure, coupled with the fears of Covid-19 infections, have seen a drop in customers to the market, said Wong.

He said some of the customers tried to overcome the SOP by having the goods sent out to the carpark, where they wait in their vehicles.

“Customers now don’t come into the market and just ask us to send it.

“Some regular customers may call to order and then we will pack the goods and deliver it over to them,” he said.

Wong said that his association had asked its members to undergo a second screening even if the results of the first screening was negative to assure themselves and their customers.

“We will reopen our stalls next week but I am actually quite worried. If someone in a market has been infected, it can quickly spread.

“That is why even if other people are negative; you will have to do the test again. Once it (the second test) is negative, then the stalls can be opened,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sing urged all his seafood traders to practise self-discipline and not let the sacrifices made in the past few days go in vain.

“I have also been advising the group not to take off the mask except while eating. I very much hope everyone can do this.”

Kuala Lumpur Fruits Wholesalers’ Association president Chin Nyuk Moy pointed out that there were currently five people diagnosed with Covid-19 in the fruit section, including someone from a worker’s family.

“There was an employee who took her husband along when she went for the screening, and the husband also tested positive for the virus.”

She said at present, they could only wait for the authorities to arrange to disinfect their area. – January 26, 2021.