Penang Health Department’s environmental health officer Mohd Wazir Khalid said the market had failed to implement social distancing, temperature readings, did not provide hand sanitisers as well as failure to control the entry and exit points.

At the same time, he said the MoH also planned to introduce two shifts for the childcare service to meet the needs of frontline staff, who were also working in shifts.

In addition, he said the premises licensing for shops selling alcohol beverages needed to be tightened by the local authorities following the incidents of road accidents involving drunk drivers.

This brings the total number of cases in the country so far to 7,857, said health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

"The company (MUI) wishes to advise that Metrojaya Bhd continues to operate its retailing business as usual through various subsidiaries including its Metrojaya department stores under MJ Department Stores and its East India Company specialty store under EIC Clothing. These are separate entities from MDS and EIC.”

Shuttered for three months for “upgrades and renovation works”

Chairman of Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said many parents “prefer to keep young children at home but might allow those in secondary schools to return”.

An advisory issued by the Embassy of Malaysia (pictured) in Washington DC yesterday also advised Malaysian citizens to avoid areas of protests, stay at home and abide by curfews imposed by the local authorities.

Retail partners include TF Value-Mart Hypermarket, GreatZone Household Centre, Watsons, MR DIY, Midas Rainbow, Green Point Departmental Store, New Market, Pharmhouse Pharmacy, Marrybrown, Moons Café and Food Court

Commenting on the latest results of the survey, chief business economist Chris Williamson said a strong rise in the PMI provided the first major indication that the economic downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic appears to have bottomed out.

“While manufacturing activity continued to fall at a steep rate in May, declines in output and order books were notably less severe than seen in April,” he said.