Industry relieved no full lockdown - FMM

KUALA LUMPUR: The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) has expressed its appreciation of the government's move to allow the five key economic sectors to continue operating during the Movement Control Order (MCO) in the six states, with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in place.

President Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai said a full lockdown in Penang, Selangor, Melaka, Johor, Sabah and the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan -- states which happen to be the hub and heart of the country's economic activities -- would be detrimental to the business sector, economy and livelihood of the rakyat.

In a special address on the implementation of the MCO today, the prime minister said the MCO would be enforced in the six states from midnight Jan 13 - 26, 2021.

During the same period, Conditional MCO (CMCO) would be enforced in Pahang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan, while Perlis and Sarawak would be placed under the Recovery MCO (RMCO).

Meanwhile, the FMM noted that the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) will announce the details of the operations allowed during the MCO.

"We look forward to the expeditious release of the details to allow enough time for the industry to plan and adjust to the required conditions.

"It is most important that the process and procedure to operate are seamless and clear for fast implementation; and FMM will issue an advisory to our members upon receiving the announcement on the details by MITI," said Soh in a statement today.

In the meantime, he said FMM would also like to remind industry players to continue to strictly observethe COVID-19 precautionary measures, and be diligent and vigilant in adhering to the SOPs as breaking the chain of infection would require a concerted effort from everyone.

--BERNAMA