Allowing only few tyre shops, workshops defeats social distancing aim – LDP

KOTA KINABALU: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Public Complaint Bureau chief Jason Liew has expressed bewilderment at the State Government’s decision to allow only a number of tyre shops and workshops that were registered under the Public Works Department (PWD) to operate during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period.

He said this would cause vehicle owners to swarm the few premises that were open, which defeated the purpose of social distancing to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).

According to the PWD statement, Liew said only a small number of tyre shops and workshops were allowed to operate, which was a great inconvenience to the owners who wanted to get their vehicles serviced or maintained.

“Although the premises that are granted approval to open are scattered in Kota Kinabalu, Putatan, Beaufort, Tuaran, Tawau, Kota Belud, Kota Marudu, Ranau, Telupid, Keningau, Sandakan, Lahad Datu,

Kudat, Penampang and Lido, only a few tyre shops or workshops will operate in the districts.

“Imagine how crowded the shops would be.”

While the intention was to minimize the crowd by reducing the number of operational premises, he said there have been many requests from the public urging the government to allow tyre shops and workshops to stay open during the MCO period.

“As such, how can the few operators cope with the huge demand?”

Liew also doubted whether workshops could give every vehicle the attention and care required due to limited time if the businesses were only allowed to open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 8am to 2pm.

Hence, he suggested to the authority to allow all spare part dealers, workshops and tyre shops to open during the MCO to ensure vehicles could be repaired in the shortest time with minimal workers.