PETALING JAYA: The government has relaxed the rules for eateries, allowing full capacity, but not all restaurant owners are in a rush to fill their premises.

       Many seem to prefer the pandemic period’s 50% capacity.

       Restaurant and Bistro Owners Association vice-president Jeremy Lim said that even with the latest capacity relaxation, most of its members would maintain the one-metre distance between tables.

       “Our members from different sizes and scales still want to adopt the one-metre social distancing between tables.

       “I don’t think the industry will be able to revert to the pre-pandemic capacity any time soon,” he said, adding that the government’s move towards endemicity deserves to be lauded.

       He said restaurants would continue to maintain safety measures like premises ventilation, regular sanitisation, self-testing among staff and physical distancing.

       However, he hoped that with the removal of the 50% capacity rule, the food and beverage industry will be able to flourish and rehire employees who had to be laid off.

       “Limited capacity (previously) meant smaller workforce and lower income.

       “When businesses had less income, the real ‘victims’ were employees who were made redundant.

       “Hopefully, as the market reopens, the industry will be able to flourish and re-admit the employees who had left,” Lim said.

       Original Penang Kayu Nasi Kandar managing director Burhan Mohamed, however, said his premises would operate at 100% capacity from April 1.

       “We will follow the government’s recommendation,” he said.

       Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec) will also no longer impose the 50% capacity limits within its premises, said its chief executive officer Mala Dorasamy.

       “We welcome the decision as we move towards the endemic phase. Most convention centres have obtained the SafeBE certification in preparation for the reopening of business,” she said.

       SafeBE is the Safe Business Events certification that recognises a venue’s implementation of standard operating procedure (SOP) amid the new normal.

       The mega exhibition hall in Kuala Lumpur can accommodate about 47,700 visitors.

       World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) group managing director Datuk Seri Dr Irmohizam Ibrahim said the exhibition and trade centre hall would continue to be vigilant in keeping the public safe despite being allowed to operate at 100% capacity.

       In a statement yesterday, he said physical distancing was vital in efforts to curb the virus.

       “WTCKL, with its extensive network, is one of the main industry players in the business events and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) industries.

       “We are ready to welcome this progressive change. I am confident that this exit strategy will allow us to return to normalcy,” Irmohizam said.