Street market shoppers adapt to new normal
KUCHING: Observing all the recommended Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) has become the new norm for shoppers at Kuching City Mall street market.
Shoppers willingly had their body temperature taken by Rela personnel on duty at the only entrance, recorded their particulars in a record book or used their handphone app to do so.
No overcrowding at the 115 stalls selling fruits, vegetables, jungle produce, cakes, meat and fish.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk
Amar Douglas Uggah and the Minister of Housing and Local Government Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian were checking on SOP compliance at the market yesterday.
With them were Padawan Municipal Council deputy chairman Datuk Ahmad Datuk Seri Ibrahim and secretary Elizabeth Loh.
Uggah, who is also SDMC chairman, and Dr Sim who is Batu Kawah state assemblyman, took the opportunity to talk with hawkers, inquiring about their business and listening to grouses raised by some.
The market is operational from noon to 6pm daily currently. Before the Movement Control Order (MCO) due to Covid-19 pandemic, it was a night market.
It now includes some hawkers from MJC Batu Kawah new township street market, which operates every Thursday and Friday.
According to Dr Sim, the market is still closed because it is bigger and very popular with shoppers, hence social distancing would be very hard to implement.
“We have not decided when to allow it to reopen,” he said.