KUCHING: Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) has urged the state government to quickly issue a prohibition on Ramadan bazaars in Sarawak in view of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
The party said the bazaars would inevitably draw large crowds of people.
“The bazaars will put to naught the sacrifices that people have made to comply with the movement control order (MCO) to date.
“Also remember the frontliners like the health workers who have been exposed to the risk of infection while the rest of us stay at home,” said statement yesterday with reference to a recent report that Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng was considering cancelling this year’s Ramadan bazaar.
The party reckoned that if the pandemic continued, it would require a prolonged MCO, probably a few more months, which would have devastating ripple effects on the economy. The worst affected are small businesses that are already teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.
Collapsing businesses would result in large-scale unemployment especially as small-medium enterprises comprised a significant portion of the Malaysian economy.
“By April 14, the country will have endured the MCO for nearly a month and the majority of Sarawakians have abided by staying at home,” the statement continued, adding that there was a possibility that the MCO might need to be extended for another one or two weeks.
