Don’t create unnecessary confusion, says Chong

PETALING JAYA: The government must provide clear instructions on the standard operating procedure it sets for the conditional movement control order (MCO) as a lack of direction will cause widespread confusion, says MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon (pic).

He said the lack of clarity would also cause unnecessary strain on frontliners.

Chong said this following Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s announcement on Tuesday that private and public sector workers in the management and supervision categories in Selangor, Sabah, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya must work from home from today.

However, a number of industry players and businesses had posed questions about the work-from-home order.

Chong noted that it was also confusing that the government was allowing commercial sports facilities to open.

He said the people were wondering why basic-level employees were supposed to operate from home, yet sports centres could open as usual.

“Does that mean infection rates in sports centres are lower?” he said in a statement.

Although the directive was meant to reduce movement by people, he said it would be a setback to economic recovery.

“The virus does not differentiate between basic-level staff to management, or pick a time of the day to infect people. While people are trying their best to adapt, it is imperative for the government to be meticulous in the drafting of guidelines, ” he said.