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PETALING JAYA: With the conditional motion control order extended for another four weeks, hairdressers and their clients are urging the government to allow them to open salons, especially as some turn to “barbers on demand” for a haircut.
The president of the Malaysian Indian Hairdressers Owners Association, Dr. Magendran Vellasamy, said it was better to open salons than to risk people hiring barbers who offer home services.
“Such barbers will not have safety guidelines or standard operating procedures (SOPs), so the risk of infection will be higher,” he said, adding that the barbers would have no problem with overcrowding.
“People come for haircuts only once a month. It is not like a restaurant where customers come in regularly throughout the day.
“Previously, the government allowed us to open in mid-April, but the number of Covid-19 cases was high, so we asked them to wait another two weeks, but now we are not allowed to open while other sectors are allowed, ” he said.
Malaysian Hairdressing Association President Michael Poh said hairdressers are prepared to comply with the strict SOP and urged authorities to consider allowing them to reopen.
The SOP he submitted to the government included temperature tests, barbers in protective clothing, thoroughly washing clients’ hair, disinfecting facilities, and banning waiting rooms.
He described the move by some barbers who offer home services as “wrong and their actions are even more dangerous.”
Sales executive Daniel Lee, 31, said salons should be allowed to resume operations with limited capacity, following guidelines similar to those of restaurants.
He said he knew of some friends who had hired the services of barbers who travel to their homes.
“This presents a greater risk than if the barber shops were opened with the appropriate regulations.
He said that if they are allowed to operate, classrooms must enforce social distancing rules and refuse visits without an appointment, only accepting appointments.
Michael Tan, 27, a tax accountant, said he also knew people who had called the barbers to come to their homes to get their hair cut.
Tan said there would be less risk if a salon was allowed to reopen compared to hairdressers who offer home services.
He said hairdressers must adhere to proper hygiene standards, such as washing scissors regularly and wearing gloves and masks.
But some are not in favor of reopening hairdressing salons, adding that the time is not right.
“It’s fine with me if the barber shops aren’t open,” said student Jeremy Lee, 21.
“There is a lot of physical contact in the classrooms, and at this time it is better to maintain social distance.
“Not having a haircut is not the biggest problem right now,” he said.
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