Federation of Manufacturers Malaysia (FMM) president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai.
PETALING JAYA: Industry players have voiced their support for the government’s intention to tighten the standard operating procedure for high-risk sectors under the extension of the current movement control order.
The extension is necessary to reduce the number of Covid-19 cases as new infections are still alarmingly high, said Federation of Manufacturers Malaysia (FMM) president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai.
“The industry is cognisant of the overall clusters that have been reported lately, including those from the manufacturing sector.
“This is indeed very concerning but at the same time must be recognised that most of the clusters involving the manufacturing sector have stemmed from the targeted screening of foreign workers and not as a result of infections that have occurred directly at the workplace, ” he said.
PETALING JAYA: Industry leaders are urging the government to let then have a say before standard operating procedures (SOPs) for businesses are drawn up.
They claim that the current situation for the ongoing MCO had issues and created confusion about carrying out economic activities.
In a virtual media conference on Saturday (Jan 30), Industries Unite MCO 2.0 group coordinator Datuk Irwin Cheong said the group came to a general consensus that they want engagement with the authorities.
According to them, the government s instructions with regard to mid-stream and down-stream businesses were not clear.
Industries Unite MCO 2.0 is a loose group of SMEs from various industries.
Tuesday, 19 Jan 2021
Federation of Manufacturers Malaysia (FMM) president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai said the extension of the wage subsidy was something the industry looked forward to although FMM would have hoped for the extension to be for a three-month period as there would be a cascading impact on business even after operations have resumed post-MCO.
PETALING JAYA: At a time when the business community is still reeling from the impact of Covid-19 and the first movement control order (MCO) last year, the re-imposition of such restrictions since Jan 13 began worrying companies on their business continuity and sustainability.
Most of them got to breathe a sigh of relief yesterday when Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced the RM15bil “Perlindungan Ekonomi dan Rakyat Malaysia” (Permai) assistance package.
PETALING JAYA: Many companies are still unsure whether they are allowed to operate after the latest movement control order went into effect on Wednesday, with the list constantly changing.
However, business owners and associations said the process of obtaining the notification letter from the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) to be allowed to operate was a straightforward one.
Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) executive director Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan said companies were able to apply for the letter, which allows workers to travel to work during the MCO period, through a dedicated website.
“Previously, workers only needed a letter from the company to allow them to travel, but this time around, the authorities also require a letter from Miti.
Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) SMEs committee chairman Koong Lin Loong says “We did a survey and found that SMEs can’t survive more than four months with no cash flow. Generally, they can only do three months. Those that can survive six months and above are rare.
JUST when businesses thought 2020 was done and dusted, the resurgence in Covid-19 cases and the reimposition of stricter movement controls may have brought about a sense of deja vu.
Many had entered the year with optimism and were pinning their hopes on a great recovery in 2021 following the disruption to the economy last year.