Thursday, 07 May 2020 05:47 AM MYTDilla Textile Trading’s Ferawati Akhiruddin speaks to Malay Mail during an interview at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman May 5, 2020. — Picture by Firdaus Latif
While a rent reduction of 50 per cent would be music to most ears, Ferawati said it made no difference as the nearly month-and-half without revenue meant she still could not pay this. With the MCO in place, however, this meant she was holding stocks she had no way of selling during the lockdown. Crucially for Ferawati, several areas such as Masjid India and Jalan TAR had been placed under an even more restrictive version dubbed the EMCO that prohibited even activities deemed essential. These have since been lifted.Gulati's Silk House does not need to worry about rent as it owns its premises, said Lavlu. — Picture by Firdaus Latif
“Now, look at the empty street. Our shops are opened but no one dares to come out in fear of contracting the virus.Because Gulati’s owns its premises, Lavlu said they at least did not have to worry about rent as this was very high in the area. “None of our customers order stocks in small quantities so it does not make sense for us to make available an option for online shopping,” he said when met at his shop at Malayan Mansion.
As for Lydawati Nadim from Mega Exclusive Wholesale, she said a large portion of sales during the Ramadan month was dependent on those who were heading out of state to celebrate Hari Raya with their extended families in their hometowns.