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PETALING JAYA: Businesses say a tightened standard operating procedure under MCO 3.0 is the way to go compared to a full lockdown which gives small businesses no room to breathe.
With businesses allowed to operate at a reduced capacity, they said many people, especially those in the B40 group would get to keep their jobs and provide for their families.
“We should practise self-discipline and self-lockdown at home for our own good, ” said SME Association of Malaysia president Datuk Michael Kang, in welcoming the government’s latest restrictions.
“We need to balance public health and livelihoods. If there is nothing important to do outside, just stay at home. Don’t go out.
“A tightened SOP should come with full enforcement. I hope people will not challenge it and risk their health and that of their loved ones. They should also sign up for vaccination, ” he said yesterday.
Kang reminded businesses to adhere to the SOP of only allowing a maximum of 60% of the workforce onsite to avoid being slapped with a temporary closure notice and penalty.
The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) also welcomed the implementation of a stricter and tighter SOP in favour of protecting public health.
“We believe that it is only through taking drastic measures with a short-term and long-term gain approach that can curb the virus transmission, ease the pressure on the healthcare system which is at its breaking point and save lives, ” it said in a statement.
ACCCIM also urged the government to step up mass-testing and isolation as well as contact tracing by adopting a more aggressive strategy with the help of private general practitioners and recruiting extra staff to assist the public health officers.
The chamber also said all rules and SOP should be clear and sensible in terms of fairness, and strictly enforced across the board.
“With the worsening virus spread that could derail the still-uneven pace of economic recovery and business revival, the chamber hopes that further targeted relief can be given to support sectors that are hard-hit, including the self-employed, micro business, service industry and retailers.
“The government can consider extending some of the relief and financial assistance measures like the wage subsidy programme and the human resource development fund levy exemption for selected groups that will expire in June, ” it added.
Mydin Hypermarket chain managing director Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin called on Malaysians to “bite the bullet and have zero social activities”.
Having earlier called for a full lockdown, he said he now saw the wisdom of the government’s decision in the effort to balance lives and livelihoods.
“The government has now passed the responsibility back to the rakyat and we should do our part and stay home.
“All social activities should stop. It will affect the economy but if we can just follow it for the next two to four weeks, and with more vaccinations coming up, we can flatten the curve, ” he said.
Ameer also called on businesses to be supportive both in form and spirit, including not “looking for loopholes” to increase their operational staff strength.
“Whatever the flexibility is given to businesses to operate, it does not mean it should be used to the maximum.
“Let’s support our medical frontliners and heed the government’s call to stay safe at home, ” he added.
Source: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/05/24/tightened-sop-welcomed