GEORGE TOWN: Several popular nasi kandar joints here are not ready to cater for dine-in patrons as most of their staff have not been fully vaccinated.

       Restaurant Hameediyah director Muhammad Riyaaz Syed Ibrahim said he was told by the authorities that all his staffers must complete two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine before the outlet would be allowed to resume dine-in.

       He said all his 10 local and a few foreign workers had received their first jab, while the rest were still waiting for an appointment date.

       There are 30 workers at the Campbell Street outlet.

       “Many of my customers called on Monday, asking about dine-in service. We told them to wait until all our staff get vaccinated,” he said yesterday.

       Muhammad Riyaaz hopes the government will expedite the vaccination exercise for restaurant workers in the state.

       Another popular nasi kandar operator in Kampung Melayu is also holding back dine-in service.

       Nasi Kandar Kampung Melayu restaurant manager Nizar Abdul Nazer said all his 15 workers had only received their first dose of the vaccine.

       A food operator in Transfer Road said she would continue to offer takeaway for the time being.

       Fatimah Hassan, 59, said those who wanted to order food from her could do so via food delivery service from e-hailing companies.

       “I am not ready to restart dine-in as my worker and I haven’t received an appointment for vaccination.

       Customer Nurul Sarah Lim Abdullah, 44, said the government should prioritise restaurant workers for the vaccination programme so that those who were fully vaccinated could enjoy the SOP relaxation.

       “Many of us in Penang are not fully vaccinated and many have not even received their first jab.

       “I hope the government will speed up the vaccination programme for all,” she said.