AYER KEROH: State elections always cause a buzz, with VIPs and others flocking to local markets, bringing excitement and a boost for small businesses.
That’s not happening in Melaka. Most traders in the state are not expecting much of an increase in income over the next couple of weeks.
Fahmi Nazih and his wife Rozizana Mohamed Jim, owners of a chicken rice restaurant in the small town of Asahan, told FMT they did not think the election would bring extra business.
Rozizana said the large presence of visitors to the town had increased fears of a Covid-19 outbreak.
“We have young children who are not vaccinated yet,” she added.
Fahmi said people who were in town for the campaigning would usually stop to just have a drink or two, making his shop look busy, but this discouraged regular higher-spending customers from turning up.
“I would have preferred if the election was not held now during the pandemic. Also, there should be a way for us to vote online.”
Nurul Athira Muhammad, who operates a dodol store with her parents, also said it was the wrong time to have an election.
She told FMT she was concerned that infections might spike after the polls. She voiced hope that people would be following the SOPs.
Irene Gan, who has operated a shoe store for the past 15 years in Melaka Sentral, said her business should be booming during the election season.
However, things had been quiet, she told FMT.
“People who arrive at the bus station in Melaka Sentral will not even stop by my shop. They would head straight out of the building. People are still not comfortable shopping because of Covid-19.”
However, Satay Celup restaurant owner Chua Cheng Ho had a different story to tell. Speaking to FMT as he busied himself with the late-night crowd, he said his 30-year-old eatery had seen an increase in business in the past five days.
He noted that 90% of the country’s adult population had been vaccinated against Covid-19 and said that could be why people were starting to get out of their homes again.
He said he and his family would be voting on polling day.
Melaka goes to the polls on Nov 20.
