JOHOR BAHRU – The Johor government has allowed all farmers’ and public markets, morning and night markets as well as the Johor Bahru Bazar Karat (street market) to reopen effective immediately subject to the standard operating procedures (SOP) set to contain COVID-19 transmission.
However, state Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Ayub Jamil said in a statement today that the markets would be ordered shut by local authorities in the event of local transmissions of COVID-19 following advice from the respective district health offices.
He stressed that the authorities can take closure action against traders who fail to comply with the SOP set by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Security Council or if the condition in the market is deemed to be uncontrolled, effective immediately.
The SOP includes wearing face masks, taking of body temperature, ensuring the market is located in an open and gated area (or with barriers) to facilitate entry and exit control as well as ensuring that the stalls are located between 1.5 metres and two metres apart from one another.
“Besides that traders and visitors must also register themselves via the MySejahtera application to enable the MOH to conduct contact tracing in the event of a COVID-19 transmission,” he added.
Ayub said the decision was made in a meeting with the related state agencies and authorities on Sunday (Oct 18).
Last week, morning and night markets under the jurisdiction of the Johor Bahru City Council and Kulai Municipal Council were ordered closed to prevent public gatherings following the spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country.
He said the Johor state government hoped that the reopening of the markets would enable traders affected by the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) since March this year to continue to survive as well as help to restore the state’s economy.
Meanwhile, Johor Bahru Malay Hawker, Trader and Small Industry Entrepreneur Association secretary Mohammad Salezan Mohd Salleh when contacted expressed his gratitude to the state government for taking heed of their grievances and pledged to comply with the set SOP.
— BERNAMA
