AFTER nearly a year of the Covid-19 pandemic, entertainment centre owners are feeling left out as they remain the sole economic sector still barred from operating.

As crowded and enclosed spaces where physical distancing is difficult to control, karaoke centres, bars, nightclubs and discos have been closed since the first movement-control order last March and throughout the varying levels of restrictions.

Thien Chen Yan, who owns a family entertainment centre offering karaoke in Sabah, told The Malaysian Insight that he only managed to open for three months in the last year.

“After the conditional MCO was back in force in October, we could not open. I understand that the Covid-19 situation is dire and my business is willingly complying with the orders. But how can I not feel upset with my business being indefinitely suspended.

“I’m running out of money and food and I have to ask, why are we (the entertainment sector) being forgotten?”

The government seems to have forgotten that entertainment centre owners still have salaries, utilities and rent to pay, despite having no income, he said.

It’s not so easy for entertainment centres to convert their business into restaurants or cafes, as some bars and pubs have been able to, he said.

“It’s not feasible because our primary service is karaoke, not food and beverages. If you can’t sing at a karaoke, will customers still come?

“This is a different case compared to bars as their primary service is serving alcohol, they only need to modify their kitchens in order to convert their business model to a restaurant, and the impact on their business won’t be too bad.”

Thien considered giving up his business entirely but decided against it after considering the millions of ringgit he had invested.

Entertainment centres should be allowed to resume operations with adjustments to accommodate the Covid-19 standard operating procedure, he said.

“For the three months we were allowed to operate, we strictly adhered to the SOP and there were no outbreaks at our premises.

“I hope the government can understand our situation and how difficult it has been for us to hang on this past year, and let us reopen.”

Thien said many other entertainment centre operators have already shuttered their business.

After letting staff go, these owners have ventured into other areas, such as online retail, or even become hawkers.

Sabah-Labuan Motion Picture Traders’ and Entertainment Association (Slamptea) president Peter Chow said many owners decided to close as they could not cope with the losses.

“But changing sectors is also difficult and many of us are still waiting for the right opportunity to do so,” Chow said.

There are between 200 and 300 entertainment centres throughout Sabah, including karaoke and bars, according to Chow.

Johor Entertainment Outlet Operators Association president Tan Yam Meng said 60% of these businesses have closed permanently.

Like Thien, he said while nightclubs and bars could be converted into restaurants, karaoke joints and dance halls could not.

“Some have ended their business and have since become hawkers, some have ventured into online retail selling accessories.”

Slamptea’s Chow said the arrival of the Covid-19 vaccine brings new hope that businesses could be revived.

“We hope there can be improvement with the vaccine and the government can then review the question of allowing entertainment centres to open. The loss of the entertainment sector not only affects the economy, it’ll make the country dull and lifeless as well.

“Besides fighting Covid-19, the government also needs to look after businesses. The most important thing is that we follow SOP, then we should be allowed to return to work.”

Chow is also thankful that the Sabah government allows entertainment venues to apply for restaurant licences, which has minimised the number of business closures.

Tan said his organisation has been appealing to the government to let the business reopen, but the National Security Council keeps denying its request, citing the pandemic.

“The entertainment sector is an engine driving the economy, it is only with entertainment that you can have prosperity. I hope the government can reconsider and we will strictly follow the SOP.” – February 25, 2021.