Not Enough Time: Netizens Say Shops & Restaurants Under MCO Close Too Early

Only activities listed as “essential services” are allowed.

Wan San Yip/Unsplash

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Malaysians are disgruntled over the standard operating procedures (SOP) enforced in Movement Control Order (MCO) areas across the country which limit the operating hours of restaurants, sundry shops, laundromats and other essential services, some to as early as 8pm.

Taking to social media, netizens voice concern over the short amount of time that is given for them to get food and supplies or run errands before stores close.

Stupid rules in MCO 2.0 that needs to change.

1. Restaurants limited to 8pm
2. Coin laundry banned

Like… why?
— ファズリ 🔞 (@tenoq) January 13, 2021

MCO 2.0
Is there a scientific explanation behind the 8pm limit for eateries to sell take-away food & beverages?

No dine-in? Sure. Queue outside premises? Fine.

But limiting to 8pm only makes more people crowding to buy dinner due to the time constraint.

Please rethink strategy
— Hariz MKini (@HarizMohd_MKini) January 15, 2021

I live in an apartment without a balcony. So I can’t dry my clothes at home so I need to go to a self service laundry to dry it.

NOW HOW AM I GONNA WASH MY CLOTHES DURING MCO? I’M NOT THAT RICH TO BUY A FREAKING DRYER https://t.co/sYqHTeBhrd
— Puan Sarah (@sarahnira_) January 14, 2021

Others also shared the opinion that the time limit was too restrictive considering that most people only get off work late in the evenings.

Seriously, restaurants (pickup&delivery) and groceries should be allowed to operate until 9/10pm. I just went out to get my food after work and memang crammed with people sbb kedai tutup at 8pm. What’s the point of MCO when sesak kat kedai during peak hours?
— 🌸 (@stayathometira) January 15, 2021

Habis kerja pukul 8. Keluar office, semua dah tutup. Kosong. 😭 pic.twitter.com/2ahbsAuu5O
— Yang Sejuk (@she_dayah) January 15, 2021

Even politicians took to cyberspace and raised concerns for the people who work night shifts and are unable to feed themselves because there was nowhere for them to get food as well as for the business operators and delivery service riders who are unable to make a living because of the closure.

Government needs to allow people to put food on the table:
1. open all restaurants / food stalls – morning till 12am. Restrict to takeaways.
2. Allow 24 hours restaurants to open for home deliveries
3. Free Test for all workers & allow industries to open
Pls add on.
— Maria Chin Abdullah (@mariachin) January 16, 2021

Kalau tak boleh dine in, kita faham. Tapi bagilah peluang orang bungkus makanan sampai pukul 10pm (paling kurang).

Orang pukul 7pm lebih baru habis kerja, tak sempat pun singgah kedai.

Peniaga, delivery makanan, pelanggan semua terjejas. Tak betul SOP begini. pic.twitter.com/htGcCX4b2g
— Syed Saddiq (@SyedSaddiq) January 15, 2021

MCO rules

The government announced that the MCO would be in effect from 13 till 26 January in the Federal Territories (KL, Putrajaya, Labuan), Selangor, Penang, Johor, Melaka, Sabah, Kelantan as well as several districts in Sarawak.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was quoted as saying that the country is not ready to allow for extended business and operating hours until Covid-19 infection numbers decline – advising the public to follow SOP;

All activities other than those listed in the Essential Services List are NOT ALLOWED
Restaurants, shops / food stalls, food trucks, roadside hawkers, circulating hawkers, food courts / hawker centers, roadside stalls / kiosks, grocery stores and convenience stores are ALLOWED to operate from 6 am to 8 pm
Food supply or sales are ONLY ALLOWED via take-away, drive-through, or delivery from 6 am to 8 pm
Hospitals, clinics, and medical laboratories are ALLOWED to operate for 24 hours or according to their operating license
Pharmacies are ALLOWED to operate from 6 am to 8 pm
Convenience stores / sundry shops are ALLOWED to operate from 6 am to 8 pm
Petrol stations are ALLOWED to operate from 6 am until 10 pm. Exception: Highway petrol stations can operate for 24 hours
Day and farmers markets are ALLOWED to operate from 7 am to 2 pm
Wholesale markets are ALLOWED to operate from 12 am to 6 am and 11 am to 4 pm
Pet stores and Veterinary clinics are ALLOWED to operate from 6 am to 8 pm
Laundry services, except for laundromats (self-service laundry) are ALLOWED to operate from 6 am to 8 pm

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Source: Ismail Sabri: No change in closing hours for restaurants in MCO areas, coin laundromats allowed to operate Official MCO 2.0 SOP As Of 13 January (In English)