ON behalf of private sector employers, the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) can say that we are relieved that the government has decided to impose tighter enforcement of standard opearating procedures (SOPs) in the economic and social sectors in Covid-19 affected areas instead of declaring a full nationwide lockdown during the current movement control order (MCO 3.0) period.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin had announced the government’s decision in a media statement yesterday after earlier chairing a Special Meeting of the National Security Council (NSC).
MEF would like to thank the prime minister and members of the NSC for engaging with industry in the Special Meeting earlier and for carefully considering views of the businesses on why no total lockdown should be imposed during MCO 3.0 despite the pressure from medical personnel.
The rising number of Covid-19 infections is cause for serious concern and the government had decided wisely in terms of striking this delicate balance between the saving of lives and saving livelihoods.
We must come to terms that Covid-19 would remain within our community for a while and we need to learn how to deal with it effectively, such as encouraging the immunisation programme, enforcing stricter SOPs and restricting movement.
The decision not to implement full lockdown would allow employers to continue to resuscitate their businesses during this very challenging period, and pave the way to full economic recovery.
The safety and health of our rakyat is sacred and must be prioritised.
MEF advises all employers and employees that this step may not be the best to control the spread of Covid but they have no choice based on the financial impact of full shutdown.
Malaysians must realise that the burden to control the spread is with us and not the government. So, we must be disciplined and change our behaviour, attitude and practice to follow the SOPs.
We are only able to address this growing concern by working together as the government is doing their best and that’s all we can expect them to do.
It is easy to comment and criticise, but controlling the spread of Covid-19 is a behavioural issue. If we all do our best, we will succeed in reducing the spread of Covid-19 no matter how difficult it is, and leave the rest to the medical teams.
If we fail in the end, there is only one solution left for the government – which is total lockdown.
As it is, the current MCO 3.0 is expected to cost about RM300 million per day, whereas during the full lockdown period under MCO 1.0, Malaysia lost about RM2.4 billion per day.
As employers, employees and rakyat Malaysia, let’s ensure we monitor and manage the tighter SOPs to support the government.
We thank the PM and the government to again listen to the views of all stakeholders and the feel the sentiments of the rakyat. – The Vibes, May 22, 2021
Dato’ Syed Hussain Syed Husman J.P. is president of the Malaysian Employers Federation, a central organisation of private sector employers in Malaysia that ims to promote and safeguard the rights and interests of employers
