Barbers risk house-calls during MCO, with VIPs, ministers among frequent customers
After two months of not being allowed to operate, some barbers in the capital have taken to making house-calls in order to keep food on the table.
(MMO) – Checks on social media platforms like Instagram show a few advertising their house-call services, promising customers they are in healthy condition, in addition to wearing masks and gloves.
In a bid to convince customers, some barbers have also taken to display so-called “Covid-19 certification” by American company King Research Inc that supplies barber products under the brand Barbicide, signed by the president of the company Alan Murphy.
However, checks by Malay Mail showed that in order to “receive” the certification, one would only need to take a course on Barbicide’s website.
In the course, participants are informed of several facts involving Covid-19, such as how it spreads, the importance of social distancing and sanitising surfaces, and the need to wear personal protective equipments (PPE).
They will then need to answer 12 questions in a quiz related to the previous course. One need to score at least 10 correct answers to receive the certificate.
When we contacted (anonymously, of course) one such barber shop which provides house calls in the Shah Alam area and asked if a barber could come to Taman Tun Dr Ismail, we were asked to head to a personal residence instead.
“We only deal with two to three customers a day. This part of our business is ‘underground’,” said the shop owner.
However, Malaysian Bumiputera Barber Association (MBBA) president TN Winda Mohd Tahir said it would be unfair of the government to put a stop to these house calls, claiming some ministers and police officers in Bukit Aman have contacted their members for the service.
In one case, the barber was even offered RM1,000 for a simple haircut. He did not divulge the details of these clients.
“If the government is not going to allow any hair cutting services, it should be across the board and be fair to everyone. Don’t call our members and ask them to provide their services on an individual basis.
