KOTA BARU: Traders at Pasar Peringat are frustrated over the Health Ministry’s decision to impose a conditional movement control order (CMCO) in their locality.
They said the decision has led to a significant drop in the number of customers.
Their representative, Siti Fazilah Harun, 30, said more than 30 traders in the market have been affected.
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced earlier that the Peringat and Kota sub-districts in Kota Baru, Kelantan will be under a CMCO until Jan 17 in the wake of new Covid-19 cases among residents of Pondok Daril Naim in Melor.
“We have been seeing fewer customers since last March and our businesses have suffered,” Siti Fazilah said, adding that customers are afraid of coming to buy items such as cakes, vegetables, fruits, groceries and clothes.
“Since March last year, the average sales have dropped from about 90% to between 10% and 20%,” she told Bernama at Pasar Peringat.
As a result, Siti Fazilah said the traders are worried that they may not be able to service loans they have taken from the National Entrepreneur Group Economic Fund and Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia.
“Generally, traders in this market take loans as revolving capital. The drop in business is affecting our income and our ability to pay off the loans. We hope there is a reprieve in the repayment of loans for traders here. We also request that the Ketereh district council extend business hours.”
Fish crackers trader Nik Zaidi Abdullah, 38, said his stall is still open every day even though he only earns RM50 a day compared with RM300 to RM500 before the CMCO.
