KUCHING, April 28: A ‘soft landing’ must be observed before opening up all industries during the Movement Control Order (MCO) to prevent Covid-19 infections spiking, opines Deputy Chief Minster Tan Sri James Masing.
“We should open up the industries one by one so that we can cut the chain of the spread of Covid-19. You can’t approach the opening of our business based on one philosophy: one size fits all.
“We must do a soft landing in the re-opening of our economy otherwise Covid-19 cases will spike and we will have to start all over again,” Masing asserted in a statement issued today.
He was responding to International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali’s statement that certain industries which were allowed to operate during MCO could start full swing tomorrow.
“Azmin is allowing business and industries to operate in full, provided that they practise the stringent measures as enforced by MCO. That to me, it will be quite tricky. How do businesses like restaurants, hair salons, massage parlours, pubs and cinemas be controlled in term of social distancing?
“What the government should do is to emphasis on the opening of industries and businesses where social distancing can be controlled and hygienic practices be monitored,” Masing opined.
In his press statement today, Mohamed Azmin reiterated that the government has allowed companies in the economic sectors which have been permitted to operate during the MCO to resume full operations starting tomorrow.
He however warned that companies must adhere to standard operating procedures (SOP) which had been set according to their respective sectors.
“Failure to comply with the SOP will result in the immediate revocation of the permission to operate and legal action will be taken,” he emphasised.
Mohamed Azmin stressed that companies which have been previously authorised to operate do not have to reapply for the ministry’s permission to operate.
“This initiative will help to boost the recovery of the supply chain for products and services to meet local and international demand, and will have a positive impact on the companies’ revenues, especially for the small and medium-sized enterprises.
“While the government has eased up on the restrictions, the people and industry owners must adapt to the ‘new normal’ by ensuring social distancing at the workplace, maintaining good personal hygiene and complying with the health control guidelines,” he added. — DayakDaily
