This post first appeared on WORLD OF BUZZ.
Amidst the worrying rise of Covid-19 cases in Malaysia, international business communities that have investments in our country recently expressed their concerns towards our government’s poor Covid-19 response. Both the Malaysian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MGCC) as well as the Japanese Chamber of Trade and Industry Malaysia (JACTIM) have sent official letters to Prime Minister Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Mahiaddin Yassin to raise several issues regarding our nation’s Covid-19 response that have heavily affected member companies within both organisations.
In a letter sent to the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday (8 July 2021), MGCC expressed their concerns regarding the safety of expatriates and their families in our country. Furthermore, they also called out the government’s Covid-19 SOPs for being inconsistent and confusing which have affected the sustainability of member companies during this crisis.
The Malaysian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry has expressed “great worry and concern” over Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s poorly thought-out Covid-19 measures.
One company, it warned in a letter to the PM, might have to relocate, leading to “job losses in Malaysia.” pic.twitter.com/tViok8XfYM
— emmanuelsamarathisa (@esshimself) July 11, 2021
If this continues, these companies might have to shutdown operations in Malaysia and move out to other countries instead.
In the letter, MGCC gave several examples of confusing and inconsistent SOP enforcements, including:
- The enforcement of the EMCO in most of Selangor and KL are yet to be reflected in MITI CIMS 3.0 system, hence companies can’t operate even though they are considered essential.
- Some essential classifications was revoked overnight without notification or explanation.
- PDRM insisting on MITI exemption letters even though the companies do not fall under the purview of MITI.
Moreover, MGCC also raised concerns regarding the disruption of supply chain in our country. They gave an example of member company Schaefer Kalk (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd which was allowed to operate its limestone factory in Kedah but wasn’t allowed to fully operate its quarry. This has led to the factory being forced to shutdown due to inadequate supply and it would take several weeks for them to restart production.
Limestone is needed for water treatment and the closing down of the factory has impacted Malaysia’s water supply as well.
The letter then asserted these suggestions to Mahiaddin for the improvement of Covid-19 measures in Malaysia:
- Clear SOPs and consistent standard of enforcement.
- Increase enforcement officers in all states with clear directives.
- Increased controls at manufacturing facilities and in particular, related dormitories.
- Re-open industries with strict SOP guidelines to avoid supply chain disruption.
- Clarity of PIKAS.
- Increased effort to vaccinate and open private vaccination programmes.
- Re-open counter services at Immigration in all states, ESD and MDEC.
- Immigration facilitation for expats and their families including legal status for those pending pass sticker endorsement.
The Japanese Chamber of Trade and Industry Malaysia wants PM Muhyiddin Yassin “to properly evaluate the effects and impacts” brought by Covid-19 SOPs.
It presented four “urgent requests” citing a badly affected industry with “many companies at the risk of closing down.” pic.twitter.com/yJ3BN5rv9c
— emmanuelsamarathisa (@esshimself) July 11, 2021
Meanwhile, JACTIM also shared similar sentiments with MGCC in an official letter sent to Muhyiddin on 6 July 2021. The organisation firstly expressed their gratitude to the Malaysian government for their daily effort in combating the spread of Covid-19 and stressed that Japanese companies in Malaysia have been strictly adhering to all SOPs in operation.
However, JACTIM then asserted that since 3 July 2021, almost all of their member companies in EMCO areas have had to halt operations. As the industry is already badly affected, many of the member companies are at risk to close down and forced to relocate operations to other countries.
JACTIM then provided four urgent requests to the Malaysian government, including:
- Permission for 10% warm idle operations in Selangor.
- Expediting the vaccination programmes in Selangor.
- Resuming operations for the Automative and Steel/Iron industries.
- Permission to operate for the manufacturing-related services.
What do you guys think of both letters addressed to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin? Are the criticisms and concerns raised by them valid? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
Also read: “We have concerns investing in Malaysia” – Finance Minister Bashed by International Business Leaders
This post first appeared on WORLD OF BUZZ.
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