KUALA LUMPUR: Today, almost all establishments in non-essential sectors that have been closed since the Movement Control Order (MCO) began on March 18 to curb the spread of Covid-19 will resume operations.
Spas, wellness and foot massage centres, cinemas, theatres, live event indoor venues and swimming pools have been allowed to welcome patrons following the announcement by Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on June 22.
They join 54 theme parks nationwide, including water parks, that were allowed to receive guests from today, as announced by Ismail Sabri yesterday.
The government previously announced that social events, including wedding receptions, engagement ceremonies, religious events, birthdays, annual meetings and anniversary celebrations would be allowed from July 1.
This follows the enforcement of measures under the recovery phase of the MCO on June 10.
Government and private pre-schools and kindergartens will also reopen today.
There will also be easing of standard operating procedures (SOPs), with body temperature screenings at shopping centres being required to be conducted only once.
As cinema operators welcome audiences back with promotional offers, including free screenings, Malaysians are approaching the easing of restrictions with a sense of caution.
After three months of watching movies and reruns on television or streaming services, moviegoers said they looked forward to going to the cinema again, but remained cautious as a Covid-19 vaccine had yet to be found.
Muhammad Fuad, 22, said he would wait a while before going to the cinema again.
"The last time I went to the cinema was a week before the MCO began. I've lost track of the films I wanted to catch on the big screen since premiere dates for movie releases this year have been pushed back. I don't mind watching any titles, so long as it's in the cinema.
"I am looking forward to going to the cinemas, but I am willing to wait it out to ensure that all SOPs are properly in place. As with other sectors that have reopened, they might experience some teething problems with the SOPs at first."
On social media, cinema operator Golden Screen Cinemas has embarked on an aggressive marketing and promotional campaign by offering RM5 tickets for reruns of blockbuster titles and free tickets for the rescreening of Jumanji: The Next Level, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
On the promotions, Fuad said he was cautiously optimistic that they could boost tickets sales in the first few weeks of reopening.
"It will attract huge crowds to the cinemas on the first few days after they reopen. That's why I choose to wait before going to the cinemas. We must remember that we're not out of the woods yet."
Another avid cinema-goer, Kavivarmen Vigneswaran, 25, said he would wait before returning to the cinemas.
"I have anxiety about going out again, especially after hearing cases of people taking SOPs lightly. If we start taking things lightly, what we have achieved will come to naught.
"Besides, most new releases, such as Tenet and French Dispatch, have been pushed back."
Chan Teik Quan, 24, said he believed the reopening of cinemas would allow operators to change their business strategy.
"I hope cinemas will screen more local films, including from local arthouse and indie filmmakers," said the filmmaker.
As part of the SOPs for the business sector, blind massage therapist Mohd Yusaini Yusof, 42, and 30 of his colleagues from PB Massage Centre in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, were given free Covid-19 tests at BP Healthcare in OUG, Taman United, yesterday.
This is part of BP Healthcare Group's free Covid-19 screenings for the disabled community.
Yusaini said it took less than a minute for him to get swabbed and the results would be made known to him today.
He said he was thankful for the kind gesture by BP Healthcare.
"I feel like the burden has been lifted off my shoulders. This is helpful for people like me who cannot fork out RM300 for a test as I did not earn any money during the MCO and Conditional MCO.
"I am excited to go back to work as soon as I get the test results. As a sign of gratitude, I will work out a special massage package for frontliners of BP Healthcare," Yusaini told the New Straits Times.
BP Healthcare Group vice-president Garvy Beh said the company started the programme to help the disabled community as part of its corporate social responsibility effort.
"This is to ensure that affordable healthcare is available to all Malaysians equitably, regardless of race, age, background, ethnicity or any other status.
"All they need to do is to present their OKU card and MyKad at our outlets. To date, more than 1,000 disabled people have undergone the testing with BP Healthcare since the programme started on June 22."
Beh, who is also Doctor2U chief executive officer, said the company used the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for the testing, which is recommended by the World Health Organisation, United States Food and Drug Administration and Malaysia's Institute for Medical Research.
Test results will be ready within 24 to 72 hours and will be emailed to the person or the persons-in-charge. The facility also offers a 50 per cent discount for Covid-19 tests for senior citizens aged 60 and above, said Beh.
Malaysian Association for the Blind chief executive officer George Thomas said an appeal had been submitted to the Health Ministry to seek clarification on the SOPs for blind massage therapists and for them to be allowed to take the test for free.
"We need to know if blind massage therapists are required to get tested because I understand that the reopening of beauty salons and spas only require Covid-19 tests for foreign employees. Since all of our therapists are local, do we need to get tested?
He said a test at a private facility would cost RM300 a person.
"Many of us were out of work for three months, so this will be a burden. We would like to appeal for a subsidy for the test or undergo a basic medical test instead."
Thomas estimated that there were more than 3,000 blind massage therapists nationwide, including 1,000 to 1,500 in the Klang Valley.
Besides coming up with money for Covid-19 tests, business operators also have to bear the extra cost to comply with SOPs, such as buying Personal Protective Equipment and hand sanitisers.
Thomas said because of this many businesses would take up to six months to get back to normal.
"Many of us require financial assistance to cover the cost of rental and utilities. Besides, we can't have the same number of customers in our premises as before due to social distancing."
He said many therapists were provided skills training and had no other job alternative.
Certified Blind Masseurs Association chairman Lee Sheng Chow hoped the government would provide assistance by subsidising the cost of the Covid-19 test.
"We are ready to open. Preparations, such as providing hand sanitisers and disinfecting the premises, have been done. The only obstacle we face now is having to undergo the Covid-19 test because it costs a lot.
"We are in a quandary. We do not know how to handle this matter. This is another headache."
A draft SOP for the reopening of massage and reflexology centres for blind massage therapists was recently prepared by the Persons with Disabilities Development Department, Welfare Department and Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, with the cooperation of the National Council for the Blind Malaysia and blind massage therapists.
Among the proposed SOPs are requiring centre owners to provide hand sanitisers, face masks, face shields, rubber gloves, aprons, infrared handheld thermometers and disinfectants.
Blind massage therapists and their customers must also use the MySejahtera application.
Only pre-appointments will be accepted and payments must be cashless.
Social distancing is mandatory, where massage or reflexology chairs must be placed at least 2m apart and disinfected daily, as well as ensuring sufficient lighting and air circulation in the premises. Additional reporting by Farah Solhi