Ministry calls for dining-in to be allowed under MCO

KUALA LUMPUR: The domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry is to submit an application for dining-in to be allowed during the movement control order period.

The application would be submitted to senior minister for security Ismail Sabri Yaakob or the National Security Council (MKN) soon, said deputy trade and consumer affairs minister Rosol Wahid.

Current MCO rules allow cooked food to be sold only for delivery or takeaways.

Rosol said the application to allow dining-in was being made for the welfare of not only food premises and food truck operators but also workers, suppliers and wholesalers of foodstuffs, and anyone involved in the food industry.

“For each premises allowed to offer dine-ins, it could help revive the economy and lives of at least five individuals involved in the chain of suppliers of raw materials and goods,” he told reporters after inspecting a mobile grocery in Kuala Berang today.

He said owners of premises and food trucks had promised to comply with rules set by MKN.

The ministry would also request that shops selling clothes be allowed to resume business, especially in view of the coming Chinese New Year and Hari Raya Aidilfitri festivities.

“We know now that we are in a dilemma between the economy and (people’s) health. After all, many new clusters are found in construction sites whereas there is no emergence of new clusters in business areas such as restaurants and eateries, night markets and premises selling clothing … so we hope the MKN can consider this.

“This is the grievance of people at the grassroots who have been affected by the Covid-19 (situation),” he added.

-Bernama