PETALING JAYA: The easing of restrictions starting tomorrow comes at a much-needed time for businesses, but business owners and associations say that some of the new standard operating procedures may need to be refined to avoid confusion in its implementation.
The public are no longer required to scan the MySejahtera QR code when entering premises.
However, users are asked to activate the MySJ Trace function for contact tracing purposes, while premises owners are required to check the risk status on the MySejahtera app of patrons entering premises.
Mydin managing director Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin said it was not practical for retailers to check the MySejahtera status of customers who come into their premises.
“It will be difficult to explain to customers that they do not need to scan their MySejahtera but they still need to show us their phone (to check for the status),” he said.
He said the public might refuse to comply to the checks, similar to what happened before.
“It is unfair to pass such responsibility to business owners as we are not enforcers of law,” he said, adding compliance to the SOP should be an individual responsibility.
Ameer Ali said with the labour shortage, shopping malls or business premises would not have enough staff to station a security guard at each entrance to enforce the SOP. He said enforcement agencies should conduct random checks to ensure compliance.
Founder and group managing director of Rotol Group, Datuk Seri Garry Chua, who owns various restaurant chains, said retail or restaurant staffers should only need to check their customers’ MySejahtera status should the individual show any symptoms of fever.
“If one has a cold or fever, one should be responsible and stay away from crowded places such as restaurants and shopping malls.
“The check on MySejahtera, if needed, should also only be conducted at the main entrances of the shopping mall, rather than every time an individual enters a shop,” he said.
Chua said the business should not be held responsible should a positive Covid-19 patient enter its premises or customers fail to wear a mask when indoors.
Malaysia Budget Hotel Association national deputy president Dr Sri Ganesh Michiel said the government should have a proper mechanism in locations that were considered a high-risk place of Covid-19 transmission such as hotels.
He suggested that MySejahtera check-ins should still be enforced and mask mandates made compulsory when customers visit hotels to safeguard travellers and hotel staffers.
“When customers turn out to be Covid-19 positive, it will also affect the hotel’s operations as staff will need to be quarantine if they are infected,” he said.
Malaysian Association of Hotels president Datuk N. Subramaniam said hotels would generally be able to cope with the new implementation of the SOP except during certain peak periods.
“Hotels are still short of intended personnel manning certain areas such as housekeeping, front desk and food and beverages,” he said.