KUALA LUMPUR: The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) is appealing to the government to allow all product manufacturers to operate during the extended Movement Control Order (MCO) period and in the anticipation of a possible further extension of the MCO.
Its president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai said the association has sought an extension of operation approval to essential product manufacturers to operate at 100% capacity and the non-essential at 50% capacity.
The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) has granted approvals for the production of critical essential goods such as food items and personal protective equipment like face masks, sanitisers, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment during the MCO period.
Soh said the extended MCO and tightened conditions effective April 1, however, has caused some workers of companies with MITI approval issued prior to the extension announcement being denied permission to travel to their workplace, including several cases of workers being arrested.
“This is despite workers showing proof of the media statement released by MITI on March 25 on the extension of all approvals in accordance with the extended MCO period,” he added.
The enforcement has also resulted in disallowing movement beyond the tightened MCO hours, thus affecting workers scheduled for shift work at companies with MITI approval, he said.
FMM, according to him, feels strongly that factories operate under a very controlled environment which limits the exposure of workers to an environment beyond their workplace and home.
In addition, employers had instituted very stringent health and safety measures at the workplace since the Covid-19 outbreak and continue to abide by the strict conditions, he said.
According to Soh, some manufacturing entities, that are part of the supply chain of the essential products, were not granted the approval to operate because they do not fall under the category of essential product manufacturers.
This, too, has hampered the operations of the manufacturers granted approval to operate, he added.
On March 25, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced the government has extended the MCO for another two weeks, until April 14. – April 9, 2020, Bernama
