MITI's list of essential services assures manufacturers - FMM

In a statement yesterday, the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai said the industry is cognisant that all efforts must be taken to flatten the COVID-19 curve, and would continue to strictly observe precautionary measures.

Nevertheless, he believes that export-oriented industries like non-personal protective equipment-related textile and apparel manufacturers, ceramic and glass, toys, stationery products and footwear that have export obligations to meet should also be included in the list.

"Industries that have processes or equipment that must run on a 24-hour basis such as the cement, ceramic and glass (manufacturers) cannot be shut down as shutting down and recommissioning the equipment will be very costly," he said.

Soh also urged the government to continue with relief assistance in the form of wage subsidies and targeted bank loan moratorium, as well as to consider exempting, reducing or delaying some of the statutory payments.

"This includes the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) levy, Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) contributions, quit rent, assessment, as well as to consider further energy cost discounts to mitigate cost implications from the MCO," he added.

The government has allowed five economic sectors to operate during the MCO, namely industrial and manufacturing, construction, services, trade and distribution, as well as plantations and commodities.

On Monday, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that Selangor, Penang, Melaka, Johor, Sabah and the Federal Territories (Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan) will be placed under the MCO from Jan 13-26, 2021.

During the same period, 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).