Thumbs up from moviegoers over cinemas reopening

KUALA LUMPUR: Moviegoers have given the thumbs up to the move to reopen cinemas that came into effect on March 5.

Many of them said that they were pleased to watch movies again on the big screen, and there was no problem about complying with the standard operating procedures (SOP) at cinema halls.

Moviegoer Nur Hasya Razali, 22, who came the GSC Mid Valley on Friday to watch Raya and The Last Dragon with her two friends, said she was not surprised to see a big crowd at the cinema.

“With the SOP in place, including seating arrangement, I believe that there should be no problem for moviegoers to visit cinemas,” she said, adding that the last time she watched a movie at the cinema was in January last year.

She said her friend bought the tickets and food via a mobile app, before coming to the cinema.

She said upon arrival at the cinema, they only needed to collect the food purchased online at the concession counter and scan their tickets’ QR code at the autogates for entry to the movie hall.

Shirley Chin, 24, who came to watch Demon Slayer with her friend, said the last time she was at the movies was in March last year, three days before the implementation of the first MCO.

She said despite cinemas being reopened in July and December last year, she decided that it would be best to wait for a while.

“Now it is safe to visit the cinema again as long as we adhere to the strict SOP and hygiene protocols,” she said.

Chin said she had no problem adhering to the SOP while at the cinema.

“Queue markers were placed to ensure that the moviegoers maintain a one-metre physical distance from others at all times.

“The SOP is there to ensure the safety of all moviegoers.”

On further improving the movie-going experience, Chin said patrons should be encouraged to buy their tickets online via the website or the mobile app to reduce queue lines at the ticketing machines.

“Moviegoers should also come maybe five to 10 minutes before their movie to prevent overcrowding in front of the cinema,” she said.

Syarafiq Abd Samad, who went to the cinema recently with his wife to watch Wonder Woman 1984, felt cinema operators had made all the necessary arrangements and SOP in place to welcome back moviegoers.

These include check-ins via the MySejatera app, having temperatures checked and the requirement for physical distancing in the movie hall.

“It was a smooth experience for us, including in the movie hall due to the seating arrangement.

“We will return for other movies,” Syarafiq said, adding that he bought the tickets online via the cinema’s mobile application.

Asked on entertainment tax exemption, which could see a slight drop in the admission ticket price, Syarafiq said it would encourage more people to visit the cinemas.

“This will attract more cinemgoers and subsequently help to revive the entertainment industry.”

On Saturday, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk

Saifuddin Abdullah said the government was ready to consider giving entertainment tax exemption to cinema operators that were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

GSC public relations and branding manager Sharmine Ishak said it had received positive public response with moviegoers eager to return to the cinema after its prolonged closures.

“The public is generally confident with the SOP that we have implemented at our cinemas, and they feel safe to return to the big screen experience.

“We continue to emphasise temperature checks, contact tracing, and physical distancing with gap seating in halls.

“We also implement frequent cleaning and sanitisation of halls and common touchpoints, with halls sanitised after every show.”