KUALA LUMPUR: With Malaysians staying home under the movement control order (MCO), many food businesses have started to offer home delivery.
This service does not only offer convenience to people cooped up indoors for two weeks, but is also an attempt to sustain their operations, they told CNA.
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The MCO, enforced from Mar 18 to Mar 31, bars residents from leaving their homes unless necessary, such as to purchase groceries or to seek medical attention, in order to minimise contact and to curb the spread of COVID-19. More than 1,600 confirmed cases have been reported so far.
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Under such circumstances, food businesses, which have to close their dine-in sections, are badly affected.
While some decided to close for two weeks, some, like Mr Navin Karus Ocean Flair Group, quickly tweaked their operations so that all six entities focused on delivery during the MCO period.
Previously, only two of the entities offered home delivery.
“One is a shop with a deli, butchery and food store, while the other is a catering business.
“As for the other four brands, we are actively applying to get onto food delivery platforms and right now we are offering phone deliveries,” he said. These four are restaurants that serve gourmet food.
Mr Navin said all six entities currently process over 20 orders a day.
READ: Malaysia reports another COVID-19 fatality linked to religious gathering; death toll rises to 15
A seafood wholesaler, Senri Malaysia, also started to offer delivery since MCO kicked in.
“We are actually a supplier providing seafood to restaurants and hotels,” said its chief operating officer Mok Kah Muin.
“But now with the MCO, we have started to sell directly to consumers. It is important because otherwise a lot of the seafood will spoil,” she said.
Saba fillet sold by Senri. (Photo: Facebook/Senri Malaysia Seafood Supply)
Ms Mok explained that the company has a template listing all the choices available, along with their prices.
“The customers can fill up the forms accordingly and once payment is made, we will arrange for delivery,” she said.
"WE ARE REDUCING THE SPREAD OF COVID-19”
Despite Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassins plea for all to stay at home, many Malaysians still continued to gather and socialise.
The army has to be deployed to the streets since Sunday (Mar 22), while the government reminded the people that offenders could be fined up to RM1,000 (US$225.70) or jailed up to six months, or both.
Mr Muhyiddin said last Wednesday that the government may be forced to extend the MCO if current measures fail to contain the spread of COVID-19.
READ: Missing the little things – What life is like under Malaysias movement control order
A lorry driver, who only wanted to be known as Amirul, has started delivering fresh vegetables directly to homes in the Klang Valley, as wet markets are not allowed to operate during the MCO.
“My brother and I are both lorry drivers and we normally deliver fresh vegetables from farms to markets. But with the MCO, those vegetables have nowhere to go.
“Since most of our other delivery gigs have been cancelled, we decided we would help the farms to directly deliver the vegetables to houses. That would prevent people from going out to stock up and would reduce the spread of the infection,” he said.
A screenshot of a Whatsapp message promoting the delivery of fresh fruits and vegetables from a wholesale market. (Photo: D Kanyakumari)
The MCO has prompted Mdm K Vigneswari and her partner to resume their food catering business, a side job that they have earlier set aside.
“My friend and I both work in clinics and we realised that so many restaurants are closed now.
“Many people still need to go to work but have nowhere to get food, so we decided we will start this business again,” she said.
They deliver to Bukit Mertajam and Bukit Minyak in Penang.
“The food is simple and we dont charge much. Since its just the two of us cooking and delivering, we also dont take orders above a certain number,” Mdm Vigneswari said.
STRINGENT HYGIENE MEASURES AND HEALTH CHECKS FOR STAFF
Delivery workers have to meet many people during the MCO.
Having that in mind, Mr Abdul Salam Ibrahim, who has started delivery service for his nasi kerabu business in Bentong, Pahang, shared that he and his team took stringent steps for their own safety.
“From the start, we have all our delivery staff wear masks and sanitise their hands after each delivery. AlsRead More – Source
KUALA LUMPUR: With Malaysians staying home under the movement control order (MCO), many food businesses have started to offer home delivery.
This service does not only offer convenience to people cooped up indoors for two weeks, but is also an attempt to sustain their operations, they told CNA.
Advertisement
Advertisement
The MCO, enforced from Mar 18 to Mar 31, bars residents from leaving their homes unless necessary, such as to purchase groceries or to seek medical attention, in order to minimise contact and to curb the spread of COVID-19. More than 1,600 confirmed cases have been reported so far.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Under such circumstances, food businesses, which have to close their dine-in sections, are badly affected.
While some decided to close for two weeks, some, like Mr Navin Karus Ocean Flair Group, quickly tweaked their operations so that all six entities focused on delivery during the MCO period.
Previously, only two of the entities offered home delivery.
“One is a shop with a deli, butchery and food store, while the other is a catering business.
“As for the other four brands, we are actively applying to get onto food delivery platforms and right now we are offering phone deliveries,” he said. These four are restaurants that serve gourmet food.
Mr Navin said all six entities currently process over 20 orders a day.
READ: Malaysia reports another COVID-19 fatality linked to religious gathering; death toll rises to 15
A seafood wholesaler, Senri Malaysia, also started to offer delivery since MCO kicked in.
“We are actually a supplier providing seafood to restaurants and hotels,” said its chief operating officer Mok Kah Muin.
“But now with the MCO, we have started to sell directly to consumers. It is important because otherwise a lot of the seafood will spoil,” she said.
Saba fillet sold by Senri. (Photo: Facebook/Senri Malaysia Seafood Supply)
Ms Mok explained that the company has a template listing all the choices available, along with their prices.
“The customers can fill up the forms accordingly and once payment is made, we will arrange for delivery,” she said.
"WE ARE REDUCING THE SPREAD OF COVID-19”
Despite Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassins plea for all to stay at home, many Malaysians still continued to gather and socialise.
The army has to be deployed to the streets since Sunday (Mar 22), while the government reminded the people that offenders could be fined up to RM1,000 (US$225.70) or jailed up to six months, or both.
Mr Muhyiddin said last Wednesday that the government may be forced to extend the MCO if current measures fail to contain the spread of COVID-19.
READ: Missing the little things – What life is like under Malaysias movement control order
A lorry driver, who only wanted to be known as Amirul, has started delivering fresh vegetables directly to homes in the Klang Valley, as wet markets are not allowed to operate during the MCO.
“My brother and I are both lorry drivers and we normally deliver fresh vegetables from farms to markets. But with the MCO, those vegetables have nowhere to go.
“Since most of our other delivery gigs have been cancelled, we decided we would help the farms to directly deliver the vegetables to houses. That would prevent people from going out to stock up and would reduce the spread of the infection,” he said.
A screenshot of a Whatsapp message promoting the delivery of fresh fruits and vegetables from a wholesale market. (Photo: D Kanyakumari)
The MCO has prompted Mdm K Vigneswari and her partner to resume their food catering business, a side job that they have earlier set aside.
“My friend and I both work in clinics and we realised that so many restaurants are closed now.
“Many people still need to go to work but have nowhere to get food, so we decided we will start this business again,” she said.
They deliver to Bukit Mertajam and Bukit Minyak in Penang.
“The food is simple and we dont charge much. Since its just the two of us cooking and delivering, we also dont take orders above a certain number,” Mdm Vigneswari said.
STRINGENT HYGIENE MEASURES AND HEALTH CHECKS FOR STAFF
Delivery workers have to meet many people during the MCO.
Having that in mind, Mr Abdul Salam Ibrahim, who has started delivery service for his nasi kerabu business in Bentong, Pahang, shared that he and his team took stringent steps for their own safety.
“From the start, we have all our delivery staff wear masks and sanitise their hands after each delivery. AlsRead More – Source
