KUCHING: Hair salon and barbershop operators here support the government’s decision not to allow their business to operate during the during the state’s second enforcement of the movement control order (MCO) which runs until June 11.
Owner of Ray’s Saloon, Raymond Chin said he totally agreed that salons or barbershops should be temporarily closed as the Covid-19 positive cases were still on the rise.
“If we are allowed to open, many people will enter the premises, thus the risk is there,” he told New Sarawak Tribune on Sunday (May 30).
Chin, who is also the Kuching Hairdressers Association president, said he believed that within these two weeks, if everyone stayed at home, the cases would be reduced.
“Our greatest wish is to see that this pandemic quickly comes to an end,” he said.
However, the two weeks’ temporary closure meant there would be zero income for the premises.
“I need to manage the staff’s salaries.
“Moreover, some salons are facing capital flow problems and with the temporary closure, it will be challenging for them.
“I hope that the government can see our sadness in this beauty industry. I sincerely hope that every employee can get at least RM500 to RM600 allowance from the government,” he said.
Chin added he would inform members of his association to continue following the standard operating procedures (SOPs).
“Also, I will share with them that during these two weeks, we can try to learn more from online classes and think of how to re-plan our business after the MCO,” he said.
Barber Bro Barber Shop owner Kevin Tan also agreed that barbershops should not open during the MCO.
He also hoped everyone would stay at home to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Tan added his shop could still survive during the two-week temporary closure.
“As such, I don’t ask for any financial assistance. If it is for a month, maybe we need such aid.
“I hope the government can save more needy citizens, especially those really affected in these two weeks,” he said.
Tan also felt that not allowing certain businesses to operate would not bring down the cases.
“In supermarkets, people will still be touching items and putting them back on the shelves. So maybe the government can look into this and make it mandatory for people to wear gloves as a precautionary measure,” he said.
