KUALA LUMPUR – The “incoherence” and “disconnect” in the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme have resulted in business owners unable to get their factory workforce vaccinated and facing with a double jeopardy of unfulfilled contracts.
Former international industry and trade minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz’s response came after current Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali reportedly said it is unfair to blame the manufacturing sector as the main contributor of new Covid-19 cases.
“The minister must be reminded that the government’s own statistics showed that the largest cluster of cases is linked to factories, with 48.06% of the cases.
“This is not a ‘blame game’ as such. But business entities are suffering, from the biggest ones to the SMEs. And infections are continuing to be worrying.
“I have checked. And I was told that there is a shortage of vaccine supplies but companies are anxious to get their workers vaccinated.”
She said in a statement that companies are told that supplies may come in mid-July, giving more days for the virus to spread to more workers.
“I was told that when companies with around 2,000 workers in the infrastructure sector asked to be considered, the staff at the CITF (Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force) told them that the task force only deals with companies with a minimum of 5,000 workers.
“Even 10 workers are crucial.”
She added that there are factories producing for the export market, and are bound by contracts.
“Some have been ordered to close and have to appeal for the order to be rescinded. Can the government review the rules for these industries?
“This is so they do not face the double jeopardy of not being able to operate and face termination of their contracts. Needless to say, Malaysian companies will lose those foreign markets for good.”
She suggested that these factories be mandated to adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) in terms of workers and healthcare, not a random percentage of workers involved in operations.
Meanwhile, Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin said the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) should shoulder the blame when the country cannot shake off Covid-19 infections despite various mitigation measures and a prolonged lockdown.
He said the majority of the cases are attributed to the manufacturing sector, running contrary to what Azmin announced.
Although they are considered an essential part of the economy, nonetheless they are also the leading catalyst to the new infections, said Sim after visiting the industry-related vaccination centre (PPV) at Equatorial Hotel in Bukit Jambul here.
“If one looks at the cases now which are above the 4,000 thresholds, the only sectors mainly operating are the factories. The rest have shut down, yet we are having the cases continue to go up and linger around the 5,000 to 6,000 range. The factories are at fault.”
Sim said Miti needs to devise a new strategy to fight the pandemic – instead of only approving who can operate, it should also liaise with multiple agencies in ensuring that the SOPs are complied with.
Besides roping in local authorities, the police and domestic trade authorities, Sim said the Occupational Safety and Health Department (DOSH) needs to be empowered to join in the fight against Covid-19.
DOSH officers must be trained on SOPs and prevention methods, such as ensuring that the air-conditioning systems in factories are well filtered, transportation modes sanitised, and hostels of workers kept clean and not crowded.
“It is not fair that due to a few errant factory operators; an entire state is shut down. We have to think of everybody here with the concept of ‘kita jaga kita’.”
Sim also pointed out that it is proven that factories are becoming a big hindrance to the fight against the virus, such as is the case in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, where many districts have been placed under the enhanced movement control order because there are factories operating in the neighbourhoods’ vicinities.
On Thursday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin insisted that the manufacturing sector is the main contributor to Covid-19 clusters.
“When we discussed it and looked at the scientific data, most of (the cases) stem from clusters in workers’ dormitories – both manufacturing and businesses,” he was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today.
He added that it is unfair for the manufacturing sector to be allowed to operate without abiding by the rules. – The Vibes, July 3, 2021
