SHOPPING malls and retail groups have proposed reopening by July 15 even if the 10% vaccination target has not been achieved by then, as the need to preserve this economic sector is dire, six industry groups said.

This is in keeping with the government’s target to vaccinate 10% of the population with two doses by mid-July. As of yesterday, 7.5% of the population has had two vaccine doses, while 18.7% have received one shot.

“We must make all effort to preserve the performance of this sector. Our market size is relatively small and it is challenging to entice foreign brands to our country to add diversity for attracting tourists, thus we need to make all effort to retain those who already have a presence in our country.

“Currently, without tourist arrivals, this is even more critical, considering that we can only rely on domestic consumption to pull through the current precarious period,” the groups said in a statement today.

They added that the jobs of almost 500,000 employees are at stake.

The groups are the Malaysia Shopping Malls Association, Malaysia Retailers Association, Malaysia Retail Chain Association, Bumiputra Retailers Organisation, Malaysia REIT Managers Association and the Malaysian Association of Theme Park and Family Attractions.

 They said malls are as good as “green bubbles” because of the measures taken to screen those entering the building, and again before entering any retail outlet.

“We are making a desperate appeal for all malls and all retail outlets to re-open by July 15, 2021 or when the 10% vaccination target is achieved, whichever is the earlier.”

The groups said the proposed reopening date would only apply to outlets that can comply with social distancing rules.

They also noted Health Ministry data that the retail and shopping sector contributed just 0.8% of all Covid-19 cases in May.

“Based on the above evidence and factors, malls and retail outlets, including those standalone shops in shopping areas, are indeed safe places for the public to go to with peace of mind,” the groups said.

On the current nationwide movement-control order (MCO) and the enhanced MCO (EMCO) in parts of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, the groups said periodic lockdowns can no longer be the way to fight Covid-19 as new virus variants emerge.

“We have to accept that it will remain a part of our lives and move forward as the economy cannot afford to remain closed continually,

“Lockdowns will be judiciously determined based on locality and neighbourhoods that are infected with significant clusters, and not to impose nationwide lockdowns (that) unnecessarily penalise those areas that are low-risk.”

The current approach of periodic lockdowns was making sectors that have been compliant with standard operating procedure as well as green zones “suffer unnecessary economic damage,” the groups said. – July 3, 2021.