KUCHING: Family karaoke outlet K11 executive director Fam Wee Chiang has called upon the state government to address serious issues endured by the family karaoke industry in Sarawak due to the Covid-19 pandemic and consequent restrictions.
He said in the event that the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) planned to continue keeping karaoke centres closed as one of the measures to curb the spread of Covid-19, it should provide them with financial aid or a subsidy plan to preserve the industry.
He said karaoke centre operators have covered all expenses required in their standard operating procedure (SOP) compliance as a way to assist the government in containing the pandemic, including bearing the costs of swab tests for employees, conducting outlet disinfection operations, and so on.
“We will take the responsibility to bear all the expenses needed to comply with our business SOPs despite having sales decline by nearly 50 to 60 percent while operating since the pandemic hit.
“But if the government insists on closing us, then it should be responsible for the provision of financial support in order to bear the burden of all affected business sectors,” he said at a press conference at K11, The Hills here today (Apr 27).
He urged the state government to assist in preserving affected industries as well as securing the state’s economy which has been heavily impacted by Covid-19.
“Each measure taken by the government, in terms of the SOPs, needs to be fair and equal to every sector,” said Fam.
He noted that throughout the pandemic period, the outbreaks had mostly involved other industries such as the food and beverage sector, construction sites, and so on, and yet none of these were instructed to close.
“The government should provide proofs and reasons before making any decision to close us down,” he urged.
He felt that their attempts and efforts as business operators demonstrating social responsibility intended to curb the spread of Covid-19 were being ignored.
“We hope the government will value us in terms of our efforts and cooperation by showing fairness and integrity towards our industry,” he said.
He said prolonged closure of their industry would result in the collapse of businesses, adding that as an anchor tenant, the closure of their businesses had caused a decline in mall-goers.
“Business closure forces our employees to lose their jobs and it will lead to the rising of unemployment rate.
“Hence, the government should take responsibility in bearing the burden and consequences of these encountered matters,” he said.
Fam said prior to the pandemic, entertainment and lifestyle businesses have created many job opportunities and helped to boost the state economy.
“We contributed for more than a decade to the state economy and society and yet we are being neglected in return,” he said.
He felt that keeping the family karaoke industry closed is not a wise move, believing that there are still many other measures which could be taken to curb the spread of Covid-19 without needing to close karaoke centres.
He urged the government to take the right approach by allowing compliant sectors to operate while shutting down the non-compliant ones.
