PEOPLE are staying away from the Kuala Lumpur wholesale market in Selayang after a coronavirus outbreak resulted in strict admission rules requiring them to show a certificate of health at the door, said traders.

Customers are put off by the rule and are going elsewhere for their supplies, said traders.

“As customers are only allowed to come in after testing negative for Covid-19, many of them avoid the wholesale market,” said Kuala Lumpur Vegetable Wholesalers’ Association president Wong Keng Fatt.

“The customers don’t want to go for a test because they are afraid of the results. They fear they could have an impact on their jobs or companies (if they test positive for the virus).

“Many are also afraid that their businesses will be shuttered if they test positive for Covid-19.

“As such, business at the market is just 50-60% of what it used to be.”

Wong said no new virus cases were reported at the market this past week but screenings could prove otherwise. 

“As soon as you test, you will find everything. You don’t know where there will be problems but as soon as you start inspections, it will be in that place. This is really something you can’t see or touch. It’s hard to predict.”

He commends the government for allowing the wholesale market to reopen amid movement and travel curbs.

Vegetable sellers will enjoy better business now that pasar malam are also allowed to open, he said.

Wong is not hopeful business will pick up next week in the run-up to Chinese New Year on February 12.

“I think it should be a bit worse than before. Business will drop by 20-30%.”

The ban on interstate travel would also result in fewer customers, he said.

“There will definitely be an impact. I’m not optimistic.”

Restaurant business down

He said vegetable traders are also affected by the prohibition of dine-ins in the restaurants.

He said nearly half of the restaurant owners who are customers have decided not to open at all while the movement-control order is in effect.

“Business has decreased a lot simply because 40-50% of the restaurant owners choose not to open.”

Kuala Lumpur Fruit Wholesalers’ Association chairman Chen Yumei said there is nearly no business for fruit sellers because of the admission requirement.

She suggests that the rule be removed when two weeks have passed since the traders were tested. 

“We should allow customers to come in otherwise we will have no business until the Chinese New Year.”

The fruit sellers are waiting to see if business will recover when customers are allowed into the market without having to prove they are infection-free.

The outbreak in the market started among fishmongers in early January, resulting in the fish market being closed for five days for the traders and workers to undergo Covid-19 tests.

The tests were then extended to the vegetable and fruit vendors and their workers. The vendors were ordered to close for three days from January 21 for disinfection work.

In all, about 170 people in the market were diagnosed with Covid-19. – January 31, 2021.