GEORGE TOWN: Traders at the market at Kompleks Sri Aman in Paya Terubong near here are beginning to feel the pinch, second day into the statewide Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).
Many traders, met by the New Straits Times today, lamented how their businesses had dropped drastically following the increasing number of positive Covid-19 cases in recent weeks.
Kompleks Sri Aman is located in sub-district 13, currently in the red zone, after 62 positive Covid-19 cases were reported in the past week, linked to the Intan cluster.
Last Thursday, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah announced the Intan cluster, with the index case being Case 30,788 (a non-citizen), who was tested positive during screening before departure to his country of origin on Oct 29.
A fruit seller, who only wanted to be known as Ong, 42, said his business had dropped by 80 per cent since the emergence of the Intan cluster.
Ong, who has been trading in the market for eight years, said this was by far the worst business drop he had ever experienced.
"Even during the Movement Control Order (MCO) in March, business was not this bad. Now, it's even worse.
Besides the positive Covid-19 cases in residential areas near the market, the situation is further compounded with fake news, claiming that the market had been closed.
"After the Intan cluster, there were still local customers coming here. But since news of a woman spotted wearing a pink wristband was reported recently, the number of customers just dropped. Even then, the woman did not enter the market," he said.
On March 28, at the height of the MCO, Kompleks Sri Aman was ordered close for three days following non-compliance by visitors according to the requirements set out.
Ong said he agreed with Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow's proposal yesterday for the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) be placed at residental areas and localities within sub-district 13 with high number of positive Covid-19 cases.
"I just hope everything will return to normal soon," he added.
Meanwhile, santan seller Hamid Jaafar Mohamad Abdullah, 55, said his business had dropped drastically over the past one week, with the situation further compounded with the CMCO.
"Before this, I was able to sell between 150 and 200 coconuts a day. Now, I can't even sell 40 coconuts," he said.
Hamid said health workers took his name and contact number yesterday and he was told that all the traders there would soon be called to undergo swab tests.
Hamid also said it was untrue claims that the market was unpopular among the people.
"The situation was lively in the beginning. Just imagine we were ordered to be closed due to non-compliance by visitors.
"It is just that with the increasing number of positive Covid-19 cases, it is taking a toll on all of us here," he added, stressing that he too shared Ong's sentiments on the EMCO.
As for chicken seller, Koreeyah Said, 19, he said he was only able to sell about 10 chickens since last week compared to 30 chickens earlier.
"I dread to imagine what will happen if this situation prolongs," he added.
Checks by the NST at the market showed it was almost "dead" with several shops closed due to the lack of customers.
A tent was also set up about 100m away from Kompleks Sri Aman to facilitate swab tests for those staying in the nearby residential areas, including foreign factory workers, since a few days ago.