No dining yet at mamak restaurants in Negri, Melaka
THOUGH dining at restaurants has been allowed, most mamak establishments in Melaka and Seremban are reluctant to allow patrons in their outlets and continue to offer the takeaway option.
Restaurant operators in Melaka are allowing only takeaway as the state government and the state National Security Council have yet to greenlight dining in.
Checks in Melaka showed that most restaurants have not set up tables and chairs for customers.
Restaurant worker Ruhil Husin, 26, said his employer was aware of the announcement by the caretaker prime minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, but had postponed the dine-in option.
“My boss has yet to allow customers to dine in, so today (yesterday), we are only offering takeaway. I am sure that even though restaurants are opened for dining, customers will be cautious, especially with the current Covid-19 situation in the country,” he said.
Melaka Covid-19 Special Committee chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Ghafaar Atan said the state government had yet to ease restrictions on economic activities such as dining at shops and night markets.
“Melaka will only ease the restrictions when 50 per cent of its population complete their second dose of vaccine.”
Two days ago, Muhyiddin announced that dining in would be allowed for those who had completed their vaccination in states under Phase 1 of the National Recovery Plan starting Aug 20.
Food outlet operators in Seremban echoed similar sentiments as their peers in Melaka despite the Negri Sembilan government giving the green light for dining in.
Nasi Kandar Al-Fazlin manager Mohd Rosli Abul Kalam Azad, 30, said he did not want to take the risk by allowing dining in.
“I am worried about customers who are not fully vaccinated and I also do not want to take the risk of being fined for negligence.
“Hence, as a preventive measure, I choose to postpone dining in for now.”