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Businesses allowed to operate during MCO can go full capacity tomorrow
Adam Aziz/theedgemarkets.com
April 28, 2020 16:52 pm +08
KUALA LUMPUR (April 28): All economic sectors that have been allowed to operate during the movement control order (MCO) period can ramp up their operations to full capacity starting tomorrow, said International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.
In a statement, Mohamed Azmin said this was decided in the National Security Council meeting today, which discussed the recommendations of the Economic Action Council following the latter’s own meeting yesterday.
The meeting yesterday reviewed the studies and recommendations by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Bank Negara Malaysia and national sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional Bhd.
“Realising the urgent need to tackle the current economic crisis, the government has agreed that the economic sectors that have been allowed to operate during phases 1, 2 and 3 of the MCO [be allowed] to raise their operational capacity to the fullest and to operate without time limits, in accordance with their respective industry’s needs.
“The parties in the sectors are required to adhere to the standard operating procedure (SOP) that has been established. Failure to adhere to the SOP will result in the permission to operate to be revoked immediately, and will result in legal action,” said Mohamed Azmin.
Companies that have been given permits to operate do not have to apply to MITI again for permission, he said.
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Covid-19 prevention SOP is ready for all economic sectors
Hariz Mohd
Published 6:53 pm
CORONAVIRUS | The Health Ministry has prepared a new standard operating procedure (SOP) to prevent Covid-19 infection for all economic sectors, said Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
The Health director-general said priority to reopen operations would be given to construction and large industries first, adding that the services sector would also be given the opportunity.
“We have the SOP for all services now and we are opening up in phases.
“In terms of priority, it is for construction and large industries first, then the services sector, slowly and surely,” he said during a press conference in Putrajaya today.
Noor Hisham was answering a question on whether there are any guidelines provided for services and transportation sector to follow when they start operation again.
This followed the International Trade and Industry Minister Azmin Ali’s announcement today, saying that the government has allowed companies under economic sectors that have been permitted to operate during the movement control order (MCO) to resume full operations starting tomorrow.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/523039
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Tuesday, 28 Apr 2020 06:43 PM MYT
BY YISWAREE PALANSAMY
KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 ― Former deputy health minister Dr Lee Boon Chye has today warned of a risk of Covid-19 resurgence in the country, as the Ministry of International Trade and Industry announced earlier that select industries may resume full operations tomorrow.
In a statement today, the Gopeng MP cited the national sentinel surveillance of Covid-19 among influenza-like illness or ILI, which he said showed a prevalence rate of 0.63 per cent in the community.
“The risk of resurgence is real when economic activities resume. Even though the hot and humid weather does dampen the infectivity somewhat but the hope the virus will disappear spontaneously like SARS in 2003-2004 has dissipated, “ he said, referring to the severe acute respiratory syndrome, a viral respiratory illness.
“There is to date no documented effective treatment for Covid-19. Development of vaccine will take at least one to two years. Hence social distancing will be the new-normal even after the movement control order (MCO),” he said.
Dr Lee said that the new normal post-MCO must also include a higher spending budget on public health, especially on Covid-19 mitigation efforts, as the capacity to mitigate is the solely determinant of the government’s ability to revive and reactivate the economy.
“This spending on public health is a worthy investment with great returns in societal wellbeing and also in monetary terms.
“Since MCO cost RM2.4 billion per day to the economy, we should invest at least RM4.8 billion in public health for Covid-19,” he said, adding that RM2.4 billion is needed to invest in test kits, tracking technology, quarantine facilities and logistics.
He said the other RM 2.4 billion should be used to employ 50,000 special healthcare workers at a cost of RM48,000 per person for one year, as the “Covid-19 Team” and to have them deployed nationwide.
Dr Lee said that this move would create employment for 50,000 people immediately and build the capacity for Covid-19 mitigation efforts, as well as to revive the economy.
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weehingthong 