They also questioned the rationale behind implementing a nationwide restriction instead of a targeted approach, saying a blanket lockdown would further damage the economy.
“We are deeply disappointed with the extension of the national recovery plan (NRP) Phase 1 despite our many submissions that the threshold to exit each phase is arbitrarily based on absolute numbers of Covid cases, not science.
“Furthermore, the rationale to have a blanket lockdown of the entire nation instead of by locality or sectors that are infected with clusters is overkill, and unnecessarily causes further damage to the economy. It punishes those sectors that have diligently complied with SOPs, achieving extremely low incidences,” they said in a joint statement.
They called the government to review the blanket extension to avoid further permanent business closures and retrenchments.
Signatories to the statement included the Malaysia Shopping Malls Association, Malaysia Retailers Association, Malaysia Retail Chain Association, Bumiputera Retailers Organisation, and the Malaysia REIT Managers Association.
Separately, hairdressers and coffee shop owners echoed a similar sentiment, stating that they were already on their last legs.
Selangor and Federal Territories Indian Hairdressers Association vice-president Akilan Anandakrishnan pointed out that no clusters had originated from barbershops.
“Since there are no cases (from barbershops), why ask us to close our businesses? The government should look at sectors that contribute most to the clusters and not have a blanket ban,” he told FMT.
He said most barbers have no more money and had to close their business for good.
“They had to let go of local staff as there is no income,” he said, adding that they have been asked to close since June 1.
“Many more will not survive this business,” he said, pleading to the government to allow them to open their barbershops.
KLSG Coffeeshop Association president Wong Teu Hoon said over 2,000 coffee shops and another 2,000 restaurants have closed down since last year.
“There are many more who have closed for good without informing us,” he told FMT.
He urged the government to focus on vaccination for the next two months and reduce the number of cases.
“Once and for all, I hope the government will solve this problem. We are suffering. Our businesses are affected because dine-ins are not allowed,” Wong said.
He hoped that dine-ins would be allowed from the end of August.
Wong said that even though more businesses would have closed by then, at least those who survive this period could start their own businesses.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the nationwide total lockdown will continue until daily Covid-19 cases drop to under 4,000.
Bernama quoted Muhyiddin as saying that the lockdown will not end tomorrow and that the first phase of the NRP will remain.