Azmin: Essential services in states under MCO must operate with strict SOP

PETALING JAYA: Economic sectors and essential services will continue to operate in all states under the movement control order (MCO) as these are the main drivers of the country's economy, says International Trade and Industry Minister (Miti) Datuk Seri Azmin Ali (pic).

He said the government had decided that the five essential economic sectors, including manufacturing, would not be halted to ensure that the recovery process for the economy was not affected and that the people would have all the basic and critical necessities throughout the MCO period.

Miti, he said, had informed the police and prepared its systems to assist operating companies to obtain notifications for their employees to travel to and from their workplaces during the MCO period, which will begin on Jan 13 and end on Jan 26.

Azmin's statement comes after the Yang di-Pertuan Agong proclaimed a nation-wide state of Emergency on Jan 12 to curb the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The government's decision to allow five essential economic sectors, including manufacturing, to operate is to ensure the country's economic recovery process, business sustainability, avoid high unemployment rates among Malaysians and that people continue to gain access to basic and critical necessities, throughout the MCO period.

"The six states under MCO are the main drivers of the country's economic activities and major contributors to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), totalling 66.3% of the total GDP.

"Selangor's contribution to GDP is at 24.2%, Federal Territories (16.9%), Johor (9.4%), Penang (6.7%), Sabah (6.0%) and Melaka (3.1%).

"This proactive action by the government will have a positive impact on the country's economic growth, local and foreign investment flows as well as the sustainability of small and medium enterprises.

"Among the other important considerations taken into account by the government is the need to ensure the stability of the country's export activities as Malaysia is one of the key players in the global supply chain ecosystem," said Azmin.

"As a result of continuous engagements and constructive consultations with industry associations, chambers of commerce and other stakeholders, Miti has formulated a set of comprehensive, relevant and practical standard operating procedures (SOPs).

"These SOPs will enable the smooth flow of operations and ensure effective implementation of business continuity plans, particularly for the duration of MCO, beginning Jan 13 to 26," said Azmin.

SOPs for the manufacturing sector under the purview of Miti can be downloaded from its website at www.miti.gov.my.

"Companies that have registered with the Miti database, namely Covid-19 Intelligent Management System (CIMS) through the link https://notification.miti.gov.my do not need to re-register to operate during the MCO period.

"These companies are only required to download the notification of registration confirmation, beginning today (Jan 12) at 3pm.

"Manufacturing companies in essential services that have not registered with CIMS can do so at the link https://notification.miti.gov.my from 3pm also," said Azmin.

He also said it was the employers' responsibility to download the notification of registration confirmation to enable the movement of their employees during the MCO period and to ensure they have a copy.

He also said that only 30% of the management group are allowed to be in the office and the number of support staff in the production line will be determined by employers.

"For work that does not require physical attendance, the work from home (WFH) directive will apply.

"Miti, in collaboration with relevant state authorities, will conduct periodic enforcement throughout the MCO period on companies to ensure compliance with SOPs and will take action to compound offences in accordance with Section 25 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act (Act 342).

"Employers who fail to comply with the SOP will be subject to legal action, including closure of premises.

"To prevent the pandemic from becoming more critical, the government and the private sector must work together to control and break the chain of transmission," said Azmin.