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Image credit: The Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR: The National Security Council (NSC) has decided to allow all economic sectors in the Klang district to resume operations by strictly adhering to the standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Senior International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said the decision was taken after considering the vital economic role of the Klang district.

"Selangor contributes 24 per cent to the gross domestic product (GDP) of Malaysia and constitutes 30 per cent of the country's manufacturing sector.

"The Klang district is a major industrial area and a main hub for container ports in Malaysia. Trade activities in Port Klang alone contributed more than RM400 billion in 2019.

"Therefore, the special NSC meeting today decided to allow all economic sectors to operate as usual by strictly complying to the SOPs," he said in a statement today.

Azmin said the decision will safeguard jobs, stimulate economic growth and ensure supply chains are uninterrupted, without compromising the public's health and safety.

Azmin also sternly reminded the industries to comply with the SOPs or face severe repercussions.

"Companies and industries, including small-and-medium sized enterprises (SMEs), have invested to enhance safety measures and implement additional health protocols at their workplace since the government allowed them to resume operations in May.

"Therefore, MITI wants to reiterate that industries must comply with the SOP. Otherwise, they will be instructed to stop operations and legal action will be taken against them" he said.

Azmin also urged the authorities to step up enforcement mechanisms to ensure that industries in the Klang district abide by the SOPs.

On Oct 7, the Klang district was declared a red zone, and subsequently came under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) following a surge in Covid-19 cases.

The CMCO will come into effect at 12.01am on Oct 9, and will continue for 14 days.

Source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/10/630661/azmin-economic-sectors-klang-can-operate-during-cmco