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According to reports, businesses are still not prepared for employees and customers to no longer wear masks.
Stakeholders agreed that the government should keep the provision in place for the time being to reduce the danger of Covid-19 transmission.
Tourism companies still prefer the mask mandate to stay
Uzaidi Udanis, the head of the Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association, said that tourism players want the mask mandate to stay in place and that it is better to be safe.
He added that wearing a mask is not an inconvenience and can protect from viruses, adding that masks are also inexpensive.
Uzaidi, who's also the Malaysia Tourism Council president, stated that if the government plans to loosen the standard operating procedures (SOPs), it should wait until after the Hari Raya festive season to look into the possibility, as most people will be travelling during the period.
However, he hoped it would also look into easing the requirement for tourists to take the Covid-19 test.
He said that having a PCR test done in Europe and the United States is not cheap. Hence, he asked the government to investigate the possibility of removing the pre-departure test and requiring tourists to test only when they arrive.
He said that requiring travellers to test before coming to Malaysia is a hindrance. He added that the demand for multiple tests requirement might not be cost-effective.
The SOP relaxation should be done in stages
Jeremy Lim, vice-president of the Restaurant and Bistro Owners Association, believes that relaxing the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) should be done in stages.
He stated that the priority should be to allow all businesses to reopen and operate completely, adding that nightclubs are still closed, and DJs and artists have yet to resume concerts.
According to him, the government can then reassess physical distancing standards before abolishing the mask mandate.
He noted that even though international borders are now open, it is still prudent to maintain vigilance.
He said it is logical to retain specific SOPs in place. However, they should notify when these SOPs will be removed, for instance, if the hospitalisation or mortality rate declines or new cases fall below a certain number for a certain period.
He said if Malaysia accomplishes those milestones, it signifies the country is in greater control and is finally approaching endemicity so that SOPs can be more relaxed.
Masks should still be used indoors and crowded areas
According to Datuk N. Subramaniam, head of the Malaysian Association of Hotels, the easing of SOP will enable greater opportunity for other sectors of the economy to recover, particularly tourism and hospitality, as well as events.
However, he said the industry believes that masks should still be used in certain situations, such as indoors or in crowded spaces, and for individuals with symptoms.
Ding Hong Sing, president of the SME Association of Malaysia, said small and medium enterprises in Malaysia are willing to follow any SOP imposed by the government, even if it relaxes mask-wearing measures.
Source: The Star