MCO - Penang councils ban street hawkers in four hotspots
The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has identified four "hotspots" where traders failed to comply with the movement control order (MCO).
MBPP mayor Yew Tung Seang said action will be taken on the non-compliance effective tomorrow as the traders failed to listen to advice or suggestions to curb the Covid-19 pandemic...
The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has identified four "hotspots" where traders failed to comply with the movement control order (MCO).
MBPP mayor Yew Tung Seang said action will be taken on the non-compliance effective tomorrow as traders failed to listen to advice or suggestions to curb the Covid-19 pandemic.
"The action includes suspending roadside hawking activities in Air Itam, Bayan Baru, Perak Road and Jelutong, where crowds continue to gather, and no social distancing has been practised," he told a press conference in Komtar today.
Yew said there is high compliance with people staying at home due to the MCO but there are "hot spots" which the council needs to deal with.
"We will seek the help of police and other enforcement agencies to carry out action against those who do not strictly comply with the MCO," he added.
Yew was responding to questions from reporters regarding markets in several locations which continue to be crowded despite it being the fourth day of the MCO.
Photos of these crowded markets have gone viral with much criticism from the public.
A silver lining emerged yesterday when the Juru Market in Bukit Tengah was able to practise social distancing at an effective level, an initiative mooted by the area's assemblyperson PKR's Gooi Hsiao Leung.
Accompanying Yew (above) at the press conference were Penang executive councillor on local government and housing Jagdeep Singh Deo and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) mayor Rozali Mahmud.
Jagdeep reported that for MBPP, 253 premises had been checked on the first day of the MCO.
On the second day and third day (yesterday), 330 and 1,251 premises were checked respectively, bringing the total to 1,854 premises.
As for MBSP, 270 premises had been checked, 1,644 workers are on the ground, while 167 vehicles are being used to clean the areas.
While there are 267 enforcement personnel monitoring the situation on the ground, 2,353 staff of the MBPP are working from home.
"Generally compliance has been good, however, there are still premises which need to comply with the notices sent by the local councils," Jagdeep said.
"I am made to understand, that local councils have been advising the said premises to comply but if found to be in violation, action will be taken effective tomorrow.
"We understand the MCO has impacted small traders but their sacrifice is noted and appreciated by the local government and housing council," he added.
So far, Jagdeep said compliance rate to the MCO has been at 80 percent but the situation has room for improvement.
"Effective tomorrow, action such as licenses seized and stalls sealed off would be taken if they do not comply," he warned.
Jagdeep (above) said they were also looking into the cleanliness of high-rise flats and apartments, where 212 buildings are currently under the public housing scheme.
There are 120 workers at these buildings on a daily basis to ensure cleanliness.
Jagdeep noted that Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has approved their request for 1,500 hand sanitizers to be placed at the 212 public housing units.
Meanwhile, Rozali pointed to an interesting outcome of the MCO, saying rubbish production has reduced from 687 tonnes to 568 tonnes.
"We hope to see lower figures in days to come so that we can reduce workers on the ground, to ensure better compliance to the MCO," he said.
Rozali also said that the state's public markets may not be able to implement social distancing due to the design of the premises.
"We've never experienced a case like Covid-19 before, but in future, we may have to take such matters into account when designing our markets.
"Coincidently, the market in Juru, which was one of the latest to be built, has incorporated such features which can cope with social distancing," he added.
He also identified five hotspots on the mainland - Sungai Dua, Penanti, Sama Gagah, Tanah Selamat and Kampung Baru - which will be closely monitored.
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