PETALING JAYA: It has been over 10 days since the borders reopened and the 50% capacity limit abolished on April 1, and local businesses are on the upswing.

       However, many are still hesitant to operate around the clock despite being allowed to do so – only because they don’t have enough workers.

       Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association (Presma) president Datuk Jawahar Ali Taib Khan said only about 20% to 30% of its members are operating 24 hours.

       “It takes about 20 workers to run a restaurant around the clock but most have less than 50% workers left,” he said, adding that it has also become impractical to open for 24 hours as in the past due to changes brought about by the pandemic.

       He said there will likely be changes in the future if mamak restaurants wish to operate 24 hours.

       “Customers may have to stand in line to order food at the counter like in fast food outlets or scan QR codes. They may also have to clear their own plates and cups after their meals as is practised in Singapore,” he said.

       Jawahar said 24-hour mamak restaurants might also be limited to specific locations such as near airports and factories.

       The Star reported last week that most Chinese restaurants had also begun seeing an increase in the number of patrons and bookings following the start of the transition phase to endemicity on April 1.

       During this transition, the 50% capacity limit in shops and restaurants will cease as premises can operate according to the hours stated in their operating licences.

       On April 4, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan said a total of 475,678 applications for the recruitment of foreign workers had been received as at April 1.

       Of the total, 290,248 applications were for workers in the manufacturing sector, service (77,000), plantation (53,854), construction (43,519), agriculture (11,037), mining and quarry (20).

       However, only the recruitment of 2,605 foreign workers in the manufacturing and plantation sectors were approved to date.

       The Malaysian Employers Federation has since called for approval to be sped up.

       In JOHOR BARU, plans by car wash outlets to open on a 24-hour basis to cater to the demand from Singaporean motorists are also stymied by the lack of workers.

       A worker at a car wash here in Jalan Bukit Chagar, Daniel Roy, 25, said he is seeing some 60 customers a day since the border reopening. “We are now operating from 8am until 8pm daily. There are plans to open for 24 hours as we did before the pandemic but we are unable to do so as we lack manpower,” he said.

       He said currently, there are only six workers at the outlet in contrast to 14 people before the pandemic.

       Car wash outlet owner Andrew Wong, 31, said he is planning to recruit more workers.

       “I was able to re-employ some of my previous workers who left their jobs during the earlier days of the pandemic two years ago.

       “For now, we are operating for 12 hours. I will only operate for 24 hours once the situation improves and I can get more workers,” said Wong, whose outlet is located in Jalan Dato Abdullah Tahir.

       Worker Mohd Roney Mustafa, 26, said most of their customers, especially Singaporeans, preferred to come by the outlet at night.

       “We now operate from 3am until 3pm daily. Most of our customers prefer coming after midnight, especially Singaporeans,” he said.