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PETALING JAYA: A prominent retail mogul has questioned Putrajaya’s rationale for allowing night markets (pass malam) to reopen, while keeping many retail businesses in shopping centers and malls closed due to the motion control order (MCO).
Ameer Ali Mydin, managing director of hypermarket chain Mydin, said retailers cannot understand the latest ruling.
“Is the government implying that retailers in shopping malls are not able to comply with the strict SOP (standard operating procedure) and therefore clothing, bag and shoe stores cannot open?
“But the malam pass merchants can reopen instead. Are they better at complying with the SOP? “, I ask.
He called for the government to be more sensible in deciding which companies can operate during the MCO.
He was referring to the announcement made today by Chief Security Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob that night markets, barber shops, hair salons and car washes will be able to open their doors from tomorrow.
Ameer noted that the retail industry employs about 400,000 people and the multiplier effect on the economy is huge.
He said the retail industry also had “mouths to feed and bankers to appease.”
“So please make decisions that make sense to us lay people in the corporate sector.”
