Ease social distancing rule in Labuan: Chamber

LABUAN: The Labuan Chinese Chamber of Commerce (LCCC) urged health authorities not to rigidly apply the social distancing rule here as it limited the business of the F&B industry due to spacing and resulting in sales not sufficient to cover operating expenses.

Its chairman Datuk Wong Kii Yii (pic) said: “Most coffee shops with stalls have only a few tables in their premises and the restriction causes no seats left for potential customers. This is discouraging many of the shops from taking advantage of the opening up of the various sectors and do full-time business.”

He noted that confirmed Covid-19 cases in Labuan were not alarming with no more than 17 recorded since March.

“As such, it was quite a safe place and as such, certain SOP rules should not be forcefully applied. What is more important is health screenings at entry points such as airports and ferry terminals where cases had been detected.”

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He also highlighted it was odd that a family staying in the same home with physical contacts and regular friends meeting when in coffeeshops or other outlets had to observe social distancing.

A coffeeshop with limited seats.

“There should be flexibility according to the situation in the district.”

He further said that with the interstate travel restrictions, Labuan shops were mostly dependent on the local spending and adding to this, the island’s population is no more than 90,000.

He stressed that the opening up of more sectors under the Recovery Movement Control Order was meant to help business to slowly return to normal “so the same rule should not be applied everywhere.”

He said there sould be more strictness in the use of sanitizers and temperature checks before entering the premises to dine and wine.

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“What is important is self discipline of the individuals to check the spread of the virus and continued campaign by government.”

Wong also brought to notice that recently even the Sabah government had relaxed rules by waiving health checks for Malaysians and Sabah residents entering the state from Labuan. Further to this, the Sarawak State Disaster Committee have allowed full capacity flights to Sarawak from Peninsula Malaysia and vice versa, meaning social distancing would not be necessary on the flight, “so how about Labuan shops?” asked Wong.

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