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GEORGE TOWN: The Penangites heaved a sigh of relief when the state partially reopened its doors with its own adaptation of the conditional movement control (MCO) order called the Gradual Recovery Strategy.
Almost all outlets, including department stores and shopping malls, were allowed to reopen under the strategy yesterday, but there were different rules for business on the island and the mainland.
Self-service laundry stores should remain closed on the mainland, but may open on the island, while clothing and fashion accessories stores may not open on the mainland, but were allowed to do so on the island.
The two different rules were established by the two municipalities that govern the island and Seberang Prai.
Last Sunday, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow had announced that Penang, like other states, would not implement the conditional MCO announced by the Federal Government as of May 4.
Instead, Penang would do it in three phases: preparation, normalization, and openness.
The standardization phase started yesterday and the final opening phase will begin next Wednesday.
Traffic on the Penang Bridge increased tremendously yesterday with thousands of vehicles crossing.
A check at a department store showed that shoppers followed the federal government’s rule of not trying on clothes.
Several shoppers expressed delight in being allowed to search for clothes again, adding that they were okay with not trying them on.
Safrina Azmi said she could buy most of the clothes without having to try them on because she knew her size.
“But I don’t dare buy pants, as the size varies with the cut,” he said yesterday at Sunshine Farlim.
Her friend Norhashima Hashim, 36, said she would only buy free-size clothing.
“I will not buy clothes that fit too tight, since I am afraid that if I take the wrong size, I cannot return it,” she said.
Hotels can reopen and accept guests if they are ready to meet strict conditions.
The manager of a five-star hotel in Batu Ferringhi said some locals checked in “just to spend a few nights and run away from home.”
A five-star hotel in the heritage enclave said that while it was now open, rooms were only expected to reopen after May 20.
“This is subject to more information about MCO’s conditional directives in the event that any interstate movement of people is allowed at the time,” said CEO Alison Fraser.
For now, he said the hotel has only resumed operating its take-out food and beverage outlet, as well as dining in the final stage of reopening the state’s economy.
Law firms were also allowed to reopen.
Lawyer Ong Yu Shin said he rearranged his company’s tables to put more distance between staff members, adding that there were 10 to 15 clients who showed up at his office at the time of its opening.
“We now operate from 10 a.m. at 3 p.m., as the common areas in the building are generally crowded during peak hours. So, we decided to start and end at different times.
“We will check the temperature of all our customers. We have masks and hand sanitizers for our eight-person staff and also for clients. ”
Businesses that are not allowed to reopen in Penang were largely the same as the rules set by the Federal government.
These include entertainment centers like movie theaters, karaoke centers, theme parks, museums, and tourist attractions.
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