Halting operations in EMCO areas affecting global glove supply: Margma

KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (Margma) is calling on the government to allow them to resume their operations following the implementation of the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) in parts of Selangor threatening the global supply chain.
 
Its president, Supramaniam Shanmugam, said the state hosts the largest group of medical rubber glove manufacturers and produces a combined 58% of all medical examination and sterilised surgical gloves worldwide.
 
“Since last Saturday, all medical glove manufacturers in the state of Selangor have been instructed to cease production under the EMCO.
 
“This took the industry by surprise; medical gloves have been an essential personal protection equipment (PPE) item for medical and front-line healthcare workers. 
 
“Thus, it is understandable why such a sudden instruction to shutdown can cause anguish and consternation across the world.
 
“The importance and essentiality of medical gloves can best be equated to the fact that, when a child is born into this world, the first thing that the child touches is a pair of gloves, and by sheer dominance, it will most probably be made in Malaysia.
 
“Our nation produces about 67% of total glove consumption globally,” he said in a statement today. 
 
He pointed out that the World Health Organisation (WHO) also recognises medical gloves as PPE for infection control.
 
Supramaniam then questioned the government on why PPE – regularly used by medical frontliners in battling the Covid-19 pandemic – have not been classified as an essential item.
 
"It is incomprehensible as surgery and the examination of patients of critical cases cannot be done without donning a pair of protective medical gloves – it is in the healthcare SOP for sure. 
 
“Healthcare workers must be protected in order to protect humanity.”
 
The association’s members have been inundated by concerns from their clients across the world, among them Mathieu Roturier, representative of French healthcare and medical glove distributor Euromedis SA.
 
“Malaysia must perform its obligations to France and to the world to ensure adequate supply of medical gloves to the hospitals. This sudden closure is sending a bad signal that Malaysia is not capable of fulfilling its global supply.
 
“As a leading medical glove producer, it is also about responsibility," he said.
 
Margma is now pleading with the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration and relevant ministries to allow the restarting of operations of all medical glove manufacturers in Selangor.
 
“Despite the huge economic losses to the nation, we, nevertheless, have a more important duty and responsibility to ensure no disruption to this very essential medical item, for the nation as well as the 195 countries who depend on our supply pipeline.
 
“Remember that Malaysia is the undisputed world leader in this field; we do have a duty to perform.”
 
Supramaniam assured the authorities that the association will supervise and monitor its members to ensure they observe and practice strict adherence to SOPs. – The Vibes, July 8, 2021