FMM urges govt to review NRP thresholds
The FMM has also called for the opening up of more sectors to minimise the damage to businesses and the economy as well as specific actions for areas that have been put under the EMCO. - BERNAMA filepic
KUALA LUMPUR: The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) has proposed to the government to review the three thresholds of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) and other critical actions for a faster transition to Phase Two of the Movement Control.
The federation has also called for the opening up of more sectors to minimise the damage to businesses and the economy as well as specific actions for areas that have been put under the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO).
It proposed that the government undertake mass testing of everyone including foreign workers and undocumented foreign workers within the two-week EMCO that will end on July 16.
The FMM also urged confirmed vaccination appointments for all under the National Immunisation Programme and the Public-Private Partnership Industrial COVID-19 Immunisation Programme so that industries affected can restart operations after the EMCO period.
"To minimise the impact on both the industry and economy, states/areas where the cases are lower and under control should be allowed to operate without any distinction between essential and nonessential sectors," it said in a statement today.
The federation also called for a comprehensive strategy for vaccination of undocumented foreign workers as they will pose a threat to the attainment of herd immunity if unvaccinated.
"While waiting for the immunisation to be completed, continue with mass testing of the general public including foreign workers, especially the undocumented ones, as mass testing has been proven to be a very effective approach to pick up positive cases and trigger the necessary tracing, isolation and treatment protocols," it added.
FMM said a comprehensive strategy and action plans are needed to address the likely shift of the COVID-19 pandemic to an endemic and how the population will have to 'live with it'.
In addition, it said companies with approvals from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry's COVID-19 Intelligent Management System (CIMS) under the warm idle mode should be allowed to continue to operate at 10 per cent capacity under the EMCO as it is very costly to switch the machinery and equipment off and on.
The government should also increase the intensive care unit (ICU) capacity instead of waiting for the ICU bed use to reduce to moderate levels.
-- BERNAMA
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