The Malaysian Insight

PASAR malam and bazaar traders are worried over the impact of social distancing on their businesses, which have been allowed to reopen from June 15.

Although happy to be allowed to set up stalls again, several traders told The Malaysian Insight the standard operating procedure (SOP) of 1.5m to 2m between stalls will mean some will be excluded.

Bukit Mertajam’s Taman Alma pasar malam operator Mustafa Ariffin said he is unable to visualise how distancing will work in a limited space.

“Traders here, once they sit in one place, would not want to move.

“In the Taman Alma pasar malam, we have 120 traders, sometimes more. But with the SOP, only 70 or 80 booths can fit in,” said Mustafa, 63.

He said the Seberang Prai City Council must ensure the SOP is more efficient.

“Traders are busy serving customers. And I expect that when the market reopens, there will be a wave of people.

“To make the SOP more effective, the council needs to play a role in enforcement,” said Mustafa.

Pantai Jerejak pasar malam shrimp trader, Arni Omar, 33, said the SOP is not a viable option for them.

“How do we implement a 1.5m to 2m distance when we know every stall is already there on site? If social distancing is implemented, some traders will be left out,” he said.

“Let’s say the site has 100 stalls but under the new SOP, the site can only contain 60.

“What about the remaining 40? Who decides which stalls get to operate?”

Arni is nevertheless grateful for the government’s decision to allow pasar malam to resume operations.

“Throughout the MCO (movement-control order), I had to take my business online. Thankfully, sales were still good even when I couldn’t sell at the market,” he said.

Nasoruddin Shah Mat, a clothing and leather goods trader in Uptown Bandar Perda, said the SOP will cause many traders to reduce the size of their booths, while others will lose out.

“Some people suggested traders take turns throughout the day. There are also suggestions that everyone sacrifice part of their lots.

“Whatever it is, we wait for the SOP to be issued by the council,” the 51-year-old said.

Senior minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said pasar malam, morning markets and bazaars will be allowed to operate again from June 15, subject to certain times and conditions.

Morning markets can operate from 6am to 11am, pasar malam from 4pm to 10pm and bazaars from 5pm to 11pm.

Among the SOPs are social distancing of 1.5m and 2m between booths, an open area to set up those booths and fencing to keep foot traffic moving one-way.

Meanwhile, in Kuala Lumpur, Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman Petty Traders and Hawkers chairman Azkhalim Suradi said social distancing between stalls is not feasible.

“We have 550 lots here and if we downsize and follow the SOP, many traders will be left out.

“If we have to follow the spacing according to the SOP, we will have to use up more space. How are we then to decide, who gets the lots and who doesn’t?”

Azkhalim said the association is in the midst of discussing the SOP with their members.

“We have told our members about the SOP and they are not keen on it.”

He said the requirement should not apply to traders but to customers who come to the night markets.

“The lot size is 1.8m by 1.8m. There should not be any issue here because there are usually only two people manning the stalls, so there is distance between (the traders).

“If there are many people at the site, then it will be crowded.

“So, the real issue is social distancing among customers. We hope City Hall realises this.” – June 9, 2020.