PETALING JAYA, Oct 28: Barbershops in the Klang Valley have gone quiet during the conditional movement control order (CMCO), with many having just a handful of customers each day.
Malaysian Bumiputera Barbers Association president TN Winda Mohd Tahir said most of its members have seen business dwindle by over 50% since the CMCO came into force on Oct 14.
“It is quiet and barbers spend more time resting while waiting for customers,” he told FMT.
Their misery has since been compounded with the extension of the CMCO in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya for another 14 days until Nov 9.
Although the National Security Council (MKN) allows barbershops to open between 10am and 10pm, Winda said most operators are reducing their operating hours because of a lack of customers.
“We still open our shops even though some people are afraid about getting their hair cut,” he said, adding that barbershops strictly adhered to SOPs as this was important to ensure the survival of their business.
Bumiputera Hairdressing Association president Bambang Sutrisno Soteto said his revenue has dropped by 50% since mid-October and for safety reasons, he is only opening his salon for eight hours a day.
He said he only allows two to three customers in his shop at any one time.
“Before this, we could have up to 10 people in the shop at any one time. During the CMCO, we don’t even think of profit. As a businessman, I’m only thinking of survival,” he said.
Bambang, who owns eight salons in the Klang Valley, also said he has no choice but to maintain his prices to retain his customers.
“If I increase my prices, my customers may not come, so I have decided it is better to just bear the costs of opening my shops,” he said, adding this included having to buy new equipment.
