Image credit: Frepenca
GEORGE TOWN: Companies affiliated with the Free Industrial Zone, Penang, Companies’ Association (Frepenca) are unlikely to face production disruption when the conditional movement control order (CMCO) is enforced starting today.
Frepenca committee member Datuk Heng Huck Lee said some 200,000 people, who are directly and indirectly working for its members, would be provided with their respective company letters to get to their workplaces in areas where the conditional MCO is imposed.
“We don’t anticipate the workers to have problems in travelling to work, with these letters, ” he said, adding the raw materials supply chain had already normalised since August.There are 788 industries, including large and small factories, in the sub-district 12 in the south-west district of Penang island that has been placed under the conditional MCO until Nov 19.
Pentamaster Corp Bhd chairman CB Chuah said the company employed about 600 workers, comprising engineers and technicians at their Bayan Lepas plant.
“We expect our shifts to be carried out without any disruption, as our employees from the island and mainland will be travelling with the company letters to get past police roadblocks, ” Chuah said.
MMS Ventures Bhd managing director TK Sia said the company’s business had dropped 40% since the MCO started in March.
“Our engineers are still having difficulties travelling to countries to install test equipment for customers.
“We need to get approval from the relevant authorities, which can take up to three weeks, ” Chuah said.
Meanwhile, Small and Medium Association Malaysia (Samenta) national secretary SH Yeoh said about 60% or 1,000 of its members were located in the northern region.
“In Penang, some 15% of the members are in the food and beverage business that could face business disruption if they are located in the sub-district 12.
“The supply of raw materials from Kuala Lumpur to the affected areas could also be disrupted, ” Yeoh said.
According to Yeoh, about 70% of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the country are cash-strapped.
Source: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/11/06/companies-unlikely-to-face-disruption