THE Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITi) set midnight yesterday as the final deadline for companies to apply to continue their business operations during the Movement Control Order (MCO).
In a statement, the ministry said the setting of the final date is to ensure that these companies’ applications would be received and processed as soon as possible, as MITI has to screen thousands of applications after the deadline.
MITI said a special committee led by Senior Minister and Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali has been established to ensure the continued supply of essential goods to the people.
The special committee will also include Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee and Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi.
“To ensure guaranteed supply of these essential items, companies’ applications covering food, beverages, medicines, medical equipment including ventilators, syringes, personal protective equipment such as face masks, medical gloves, thermometers, emergency kits and personal care products such as cleansing soaps, body cleansing products, shampoo and sanitizers are approved.
“Since the opening of applications for companies to continue their business operations on March 19, the sectors that the government has approved include the manufacturing and production of essential public products categorised as important and critical,” it said.
These include food and beverages, household products including hand sanitisers, personal protective equipment including face masks, pharmaceuticals, packaging and printing materials especially for the food and beverage industry, medical devices and surgical instruments, and oil and gas.
All applications are to be made online through email via the MITI website.
MITI said companies must adhere to the conditions, including having a minimum number of workers on duty, making products that prioritise the local market, and implementing the Covid-19 prevention guidelines and procedures outlined by the Ministry of Health.
It added that applications are rejected due to several reasons, including the company not being in an important and critical sector, providing incomplete or inaccurate information, and not submitting a plan to reduce the workforce to a minimum level or at least by 50% as set forth by the government. – March 25, 2020, Bernama
