PETALING JAYA, Feb 9 (Sin Chew Daily) – Fashion shop operators hope the government will allow them to open for business during the current movement control order, as many are suffering immeasurable losses having missed the Chinese New Year peak sale season as a result of the MCO.

Malaysia Garments Wholesale Merchants Association president Datuk Ang Say Tee told Sin Chew Daily business for the one month leading to Chinese New Year is typically triple that of an average month.

He said many boutiques had imported garments for sale before Chinese New Year, but they are now suffering heavily for they are not allowed to open for business since the start of the MCO.

Deputy minister of domestic trade and consumer affairs Datuk Rosol Wahid said on Sunday that his ministry would submit the application for fashion shops to open during the MCO, especially during Chinese New Year and Hari Raya Aidilfitri in May.

Ang is thankful to the deputy minister but said this would not help much as CNY is just a few days away.

He said although online shopping for fashion has jumped from 20% to 50% as many choose to stay home, the increase will not make up for the heavy losses from retail sale at physical shops.