KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysia Digital Chamber of Commerce (MDCC) has asked the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) to consult state authorities on the veracity of claims that non-essential sector companies are receiving approval to operate under the movement control order (MCO) 3.0.
Its president, Chris Daniel Wong, expressed concern, saying: “We have received reports that some non-essential businesses were allowed to operate after furnishing inaccurate information.”
He said Miti should go down to the ground to check whether the applicants are in the essential services category before processing their application.
“While barbershops and hair salons are not allowed to open, manufacturers, such as wood-processing companies, were given approval to operate. I don’t see how these companies can be categorised as essential services,” he said in an interview with Bernama TV on the Ruang Bicara programme last night.
If it takes such an approach, Wong said the people will see Miti’s transparency and fairness in granting approval to essential businesses to operate.
As at 7.30am yesterday, a total of 128,150 companies involving 1.57 million employees had obtained approval to operate under MCO 3.0 with strict adherence to new standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Wong advised businesses, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs) allowed to continue operations, to capitalise on the opportunity and expand their business overseas to boost the economy, as many companies are not allowed to open under MCO 3.0.
“Many SMEs have gone bankrupt, especially those in the tourism and event management sectors,” he said.
Wong said most SMEs are willing to stop operation for two weeks to a month, but more than 50% of the businesses will fold if MCO 4.0 is implemented. – Bernama, June 4, 2021
