PUTRAJAYA – The government's decision to allow 38 types of businesses, including non-essential ones, to operate during the movement control order (MCO) is to ensure business continuity and prevent more job losses, said Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
He said although some businesses are non-essential, they should be allowed to continue operating so that their employees get their wages.
“Although a furniture shop is not essential, if we don’t allow it to operate, it will affect the business and indirectly affect the fate of its employees, especially when we are about to celebrate Aidilfitri.
“That’s why we have to look at it from the angle of ensuring business continuity,” he said after launching the Jualan Prihatin Raya Programme here today.
Nanta said the high level of compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) is also a key factor in the ministry allowing the distributive trade sector to continue operating during the MCO.
Of the 528,581 premises inspected as of Wednesday, Nanta said 98.36%, or 520,028, complied with the SOP, 597 premises (0.11%) were warned and only 178 premises (0.03%) were issued compounds.
Yesterday, the ministry announced that the distributive trade sector, including retail, wholesale and the distribution network, could operate as usual throughout the enforcement of the MCO.
The government announced the MCO in several districts in Selangor from May 6 to 17 while Kuala Lumpur and several districts and subdistricts in Terengganu, Johor and Perak are under MCO from today until May 20.
On Jualan Prihatin Raya, Nanta said the ministry secured strategic partnerships with major suppliers to offer essential goods at affordable prices, some lower than market price.
Among the items are chicken, eggs, fish, sugar, cooking oil, flour, rice and vegetables.
“A whole chicken is sold at RM8 while cooking oil in 1kg packs are sold at RM2,” he said. – Bernama, May 7, 2021
