About-turn follows unfavourable feedback from industry players and civil groups.
The government has rescinded its decision to allow hair and beauty salons as well as optometry shops to operate during the movement control order (MCO) period, says Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin made the decision following advice from health experts and authorities, as well as views from non-governmental organisations and the public.
“We are aware the decision to allow hair salons and barbershops to operate has been an issue.
“The government listens to the people and in line with this, the Prime Minister has decided not to allow these businesses to operate throughout the MCO.
“I hope this answers all questions and allay all concerns regarding the issue,” he said on Monday (April 13).
On April 10, the government announced that it would allow an additional list of businesses to operate during the MCO.
The list included traditional and complementary medicine, hardware and electrical shops, optometry, manned laundrettes and hair salons (restricted to haircuts).
It was later announced that the plan was to only allow barbers and hair salons located in “green zones” to operate.
Critics had questioned the logic behind this, as these zones are mostly in rural areas with few such services.
The decision to allow barbers and beauty salons to operate also received criticism from across the political divide as well as the general public on the grounds that it would be difficult for these services to comply with strict social distancing procedures due to the nature of their business.
In a statement, co-signed by Pakatan Harapan lawmakers — Parti Amanah Negara’s Datuk Hatta Ramli, PKR’s Fahmi Fadzil and DAP’s Ong Kian Ming — the decision was censured for not being “thought out properly and completely”.