Businessmen want to protect their own interests!

PETALING JAYA: Business owners in shopping malls want to stop the spread of the Hotspot Identification by Dynamic Engagement to protect their business.

But is this not a sign there are people who are more interested in their economic wellbeing while facts show the spread of the COVID-19 is happening at workplaces?

Retail shops are workplaces. Their workforce is getting infected. Or are they saying the shopping malls are safe? Who is getting it wrong in this situation?

The Star says shopping malls and retailers are claiming that the information from the HIDE system is “inaccurate” and “premature”. They are urging the government to suspend further announcements.

Does this mean they want the public to remain unaware of the danger zones?

The call came from four associations, namely the Malaysia Shopping Malls Association, Malaysia Retailers Association, Malaysia Retail Chain Association, and the Bumiputra Retailers Organisation.

“We urgently urge the Science, Technology, and Innovation Ministry to immediately suspend announcements from the HIDE system until there is a clear, accurate, and precise basis for the information to be released,” read a joint statement on Saturday (May 8).

Describing the information from the system as inaccurate, the associations said the list had caused “uncertainty, panic, and fear.”

According to the document released by the authorities, there are 151 hotspots identified in the first HIDE system list.

Among them are many shopping malls, restaurants, and even a few pubic transport stations, among others.

Premises listed under the HIDE system will be ordered to close three days for sanitization.

“In view of the inaccurate information in the list, this call to close for sanitization is premature.

“It will cause irreversible damage to perception and business recovery and survival.

“This proposed closure should be held off until the data used in HIDE has been confirmed accurate and the hotspot locations are accurately identified,” the statement read.

The associations claim the top three sources of Covid-19 incidents were factories (48.06%), community spread (12.5%), and construction (11.56%).

“Shopping or retail areas only comprise 4.78%.

“Clarification needs to be accurately provided on the incidents of infections between shopping malls and retailers,” the associations say