KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 — The Malaysia Singapore Coffee Shop Proprietors’ General Association (MSCSPGA) urged Putrajaya today to clarify whether eateries, including coffeeshop operators, are also allowed to operate with full capacity with no time restrictions during the fourth phase of the movement control order (MCO)
Datuk Hu Su Mong, the president of the association that represents some 20,000 coffeeshop operators nationwide, said the announcement would be critical for the survival of many businesses as well as safeguarding the economy at large.
“However, this announcement is unclear if eateries in general, including coffeeshops, can operate at full capacity and without time restrictions,” he said in a statement.
Hu said this is because most states have different restrictions for operating hours for all businesses.
“It is unclear how the latest announcement would be synchronised with the decisions on operating hours fixed by the different state governments,” he added.
This came after the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti) yesterday announced that the approved sectors are allowed to operate at full capacity and with no time restrictions during MCO to tackle the current economic crisis.
Hu also pointed out that MSCSPGA, earlier this week, had urged the government to allow flexible eating hours for eateries and also suggested “one customer per table” rule.
“The coffeeshop businesses have seen a significant impact since the MCO was enforced. While takeaways and deliveries are allowed, there are less customers,” he explained.
“This suggestion of having one customer per table rule practices social distancing with no close physical contact while at the same time helps to mitigate impact to eateries businesses,” he added.
Hu also said that coffeeshop operators have been deprived of income following the disruption on the supplies of beer and cigarettes, which is among the important retail products in the coffeeshops.
“Worst is the illegal operators taking advantage of the situation where smuggled cigarettes are sold online and delivered to customers who are unable to obtain the products from coffeeshop operators.
“This is because there is a current disruption of supplies of legitimate cigarettes in the market. We hope the government will allow distribution operations of legitimate cigarettes and beers to coffeeshops which will help to mitigate the impact to coffeeshop businesses and at the same time contributes billions of taxes to the government,” he said.
With MCO’s period is uncertain, Hu urge the government to consider their suggestion as he believes the economy will impacted as there is no flexibility for businesses during this difficult time.
餐馆可无限制复工？ 咖啡茶业联总会促厘清
（吉隆坡29日讯）马来西亚新加坡咖啡茶业联合总会促请，贸工部厘清在行动管制令首3阶段获准复工的企业，全面恢复营运且没有时间和人力限制的宣布，是否适用于有咖啡店经营者在内的餐馆。
马新咖啡茶业联合总会会长拿督何子孟今日发文告表示，昨天政府的宣布对许多企业的生存以及维护整个经济很重要，但是有关宣布无具体阐明，包括咖啡店在内的一般餐馆，是否可以在没有事项和人力限制下营业。
“大多数州对所有行业的营业时间都有不同的限制，目前尚不清楚最新宣布将如何与各州政府决定的营业时间保持同步。”
代表全国2万间咖啡店业者的马新咖啡茶业联合总会促请，政府采纳他们“一人一桌”的堂食原则，以及允许咖啡店售卖合法的香烟和啤酒。
何子孟建议，每张桌子一名顾客规则，这可以实现社交距离，而无需亲密接触，同时有助于减轻对餐饮业的影响。
“咖啡店是啤酒和香烟的重要零售点，我们的顾客来这里购买产品，但是啤酒和香烟的供应中断，意味著在这困难时期剥夺了咖啡店业者至关重要的收入。”
他说，该会希望政府允许咖啡店分销合法的香烟和啤酒，这将有助于减轻对咖啡店业务的影响，同时向政府贡献数十亿美元的税收。
“我们不知道行管令延至何时，但在此艰难时期不给予企业更多灵活性，许多企业将遭受损失，这将导致经济受到影响；因此我们衷心敦促政府考虑我们的建议。”
