THE Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) has conveyed its gratitude to the Government for heeding its call of allowing key economic sectors in the six states declared to be under the movement control order (MCO) for the next two weeks to continue to operate.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has earlier announced a 14-day MCO beginning 12.01 midnight on Wednesday (Jan 13) until Jan 26 in Penang, Selangor, Federal Territories (Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Labuan), Malacca, Johor and Sabah to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Only five economic sectors will be allowed to operate during MCO, namely (i) manufacturing and production; (ii) construction; (iii) services; (iv) trade and distribution; and (v) plantations and commodity.
“It is indeed a relief to the industry as a full lockdown for these six states which are the hub and heart of the country’s economic activities would be detrimental to the business sector, economy and livelihood of the rakyat,” ,” its president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai pointed out.
However, Soh hoped that the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) would expedite the release of details pertaining to permissible operations during the MCO period.
“It is most important that the process and procedure to operate are seamless and clear for fast implementation,” he stressed. “FMM will issue an advisory to our members upon receiving the announcement on the details by MITI.”
On the other side of divide, the Malaysia Budget Hotel Association regretted that the hotel and tourism industry will once again be affected by the enforcement of the MCO.
“We demand that the Government shall look seriously and act fast on the issues that is faced or will be faced in the future by our members, their employees and all tourism industry players,” noted its national deputy president Dr Sri Ganesh Michiel.
“Even though the MCO will be enforced for 14 days, it will give a huge impact towards the recovery period of the hotel and tourism industry.”
While the association fully understands the need for the Government to enforce the MCO, Ganesh stressed the need for the Government to understand the issues faced by the hotel and tourism industry players by rendering the necessary assistance to the industry before it is too late. – Jan 11, 2021
