KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Consortium of Mid-Tier Companies (MCMTC) is calling for the government to enforce more stringent measures on companies and the public instead of imposing a total lockdown in an effort to curb the spike in Covid-19 cases.
The group representing the mid-tier companies (MTCs) in Malaysia said some firms have voluntarily started mass testing employees twice a week during the movement control order (MCO) to prevent community transmission of the disease.
“With the high number of Covid-19 cases, especially in Selangor, the government can call for stricter standard operating procedures, including enforcing mass screening of employees in companies prone for Covid-19 transmissions – but a blanket lockdown can cripple the economy,” MCMTC president Callum Chen said in a statement today.
According to the association, MTCs make up 1.7% of companies in Malaysia. However, they contribute as much as 39.9% of the country’s gross domestic product and employ 16% of the total workforce.
MTCs – of which there are approximately 15,500 in Malaysia – are defined as companies with annual revenues between RM50 million to RM500 million in the manufacturing sector and between RM20 million to RM500 million in other sectors.
Chen said businesses have picked up since the first MCO. He predicted that if a total lockdown is imposed again, the momentum gained will be lost, and that it will be difficult for businesses to get back on track.
The transmission of Covid-19 is largely due to human negligence in complying with the guidelines enforced and recommended by the authorities. Imposing a blanket lockdown of the economy is not a solution to prevent the spread of Covid-19, he stressed.
Chen added that reclassifying certain zones as being under enhanced MCO is reasonable because it is a targeted approach in controlling the pandemic.
“We understand that in some Covid-19 red zones, a few companies are the ‘culprit’ for the Covid-19 clusters, so imposing an EMCO in those at-risk areas is the right way to go,” he said, adding that clear guidelines from the government will be helpful.
Chen complimented the efforts of the International Trade and Industry Ministry in helping trade associations to regain “lost ground”, adding that the return of customers is boosting the confidence of local companies. – The Vibes, May 19, 2021
