KL MALLS REOPEN ON 1ST DAY OF CMCO
Visitors must have their temperatures taken, use hand sanitisers before entering malls, shops
IT was business as usual for businesses and shops at one of the city’s most popular shopping centres, Suria KLCC, on the first day of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) yesterday.
Although it was not packed as usual, there were a number of people who thronged the shopping mall to do their shopping and other related activities.
Shoppers and visitors to Suria KLCC were subjected to temperature checks and provided with hand sanitisers by the mall’s security personnel, who were out in full force guarding all entrance and exit points.
Despite it being the first day of the CMCO where most businesses were allowed to open and operate, there were at least half a dozen shops that remained closed on each floor of the mall, including Isetan department store.
Azean Mohamed, 24, a sales clerk with one of the branded clothing apparel shops in the mall, expressed her relief to be recalled to work for the first time since the beginning of the Movement Control Order (MCO) on March 18.
“It’s so good to be back to work after being at home for the longest time ever, almost one and a half months.
“When we showed up to work at 10am, our store manager briefed us on the new regulations that we and the customers have to follow from now on, such as practising social distancing, wearing face masks and using hand sanitisers as often as possible, while maintaining good personal hygiene and cleanliness of the premises.”
Shalini, 27, who works at a money changer outlet, said the number of people coming to the mall had increased on the first day of the CMCO, but it was still a far cry from the usual number of visitors on a normal day.
“Perhaps many are reluctant to come out of their homes as there are quite a number of Covid-19 cases being recorded and the virus still poses a threat to the public.”
Nigerian PhD students Jay, 29, and Emmanuel, 30, from Lagos, Nigeria, and who live within walking distance of the mall, were relieved that the CMCO had been implemented.
They went to the mall yesterday to withdraw money from their bank accounts.
“We stayed home throughout the MCO period and only went to the supermarket across the road to get food and essential items. The CMCO could not have come at a better time as we are running out of cash, so this is why we are here as we needed to get some money.
“Before the MCO, we usually came to the mall almost every week to do our shopping, and to meet and hangout with our friends.
“Now, we have to adjust to a different normalcy where we can only come here to do our grocery shopping, as well as to get other things and make do without outdoor social activities for the time being,” Jay said.
At Mid Valley Megamall and Gardens Mall, things were more subdued.
Mall operators had taken several preventive steps to practise social distancing and to avoid the spread of Covid-19 within their premises.
Mid Valley Megamall, in a statement, said all visitors and employees would be subjected to temperature checks at entrances as well as car park lobbies.
The statement said main entrances on the ground floor at North, South, and West Courts were open to customers, while the East Court entrance was closed for better crowd management in the mall.
Gardens Mall, in a statement, said it had taken same precautionary measures by implementing mandatory body temperature checks and ensuring visitors use face masks.
“The stores have been given the flexibility to shorten operating hours.”
Checks at the two malls found that 60 per cent of tenants had resumed their businesses.
Some of them were seen cleaning and sanitising their premises.
A toy shop manager said the store only allowed a limited number of visitors at a time to promote social distancing.
“Customers are required to fill in their names and phone numbers before we record their body temperatures upon entering our premises.
“This is to ease contact tracing as required by the National Security Council.”said.
Another tenant, who wanted to be known only as Jenny, social distancing markers had been put in place so that customers were separated at least a metre from each other.
Jenny, who supervises a women accessories store, said hand sanitisers were also provided to customers.
A visitor, Hasbullah Karim, 36, said he went to the mall to do his weekly grocery shopping.
“I am still sceptical about window shopping at malls due to the pandemic. I believe my Hari Raya Aidilfitri shopping can wait. We can still celebrate it moderately,” said the father of two.