Extend flexibility to operate to all sectors - FMM urges government

Astro Awani
April 11, 2020 09:43 MYT

FMM says, over the past three weeks, the country's key sectors have shown that it was able to comply with MITI's stringent requirements, especially with regard to the COVID-19 standard operating procedures.

The government needs to consider extending flexibility for all sectors to operate at least at 50 per cent capacity, the Federation of Manufacturers of Malaysia (FMM) said.

FMM president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai also suggested that all 'important sectors' be allowed to operate 100 per cent instead of just 50 per cent at this point in time.

According to Soh, the move will not only restore the cash flow of the local industrial sector but also ensure that the business sector will survive the COVID-19 outbreak.

"Over the past three weeks, the country's key sectors have shown that it was able to comply with MITI's stringent requirements, especially with regard to the COVID-19 standard operating procedures.

"This means that the factory environment was able to be tightly controlled and to date no cases of infection have been recorded in factories allowed to operate," he told Astro AWANI.

The government on Friday announced the easing of nine industries to operate throughout the MCO period, including barber and laundry services.

In a statement, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) announced the decision was taken at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

It also said companies in the additional sectors listed could apply to MITI starting Monday, April 13, 2020, from 9 am.

All applications must be made online at the MITI website, www.miti.gov.my.

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