KUCHING, April 16: Companies which are allowed to resume their businesses during the period of movement control order (MCO) must apply for operation permits from the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) secretariat.
SDMC chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said SDMC will evaluate and vet through their applications with the relevant ministry and agency before giving approval for businesses to resume their operations.
“Companies which are allowed to operate must follow the guidelines issued by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry as well as the Ministry of Health.
“They must apply with the SDMC secretariat and we will look through it before recommending that their application (to resume business) be approved or rejected.
“Meanwhile, the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) has proposed creating farmers’ market in a few locations.
“Their proposal is subject to approval by the Local Government and Housing Ministry.
“The farmers’ market was initiated to provide farmers, breeders and fishermen opportunity to market their produce to consumers,” Uggah who is also Minister of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development said during a press conference to provide updates on the Covid-19 situation in Sarawak.
He noted the Ministry of International Trade and Industry has set a few terms and conditions which businesses resuming operations must comply with.
These include reducing the number of workers by half, providing body temperature measurement tools for checks such as at the entrance of a factory, provision of hand sanitizer, ensuring workers wear face masks, cleaning of premises and disinfection carried out three times a day, and social distancing at work.
Additionally, Uggah who is Deputy Chief Minister said if an employee were to be confirmed infected with Covid-19, the company will need to bear medical costs as well as all costs related to the treatment of the employee.
Apart from that, he revealed that the SDMC has allowed the Communications and Multimedia Ministry through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to set up Internet centres in rural areas.
He asserted that Internet access is an important service which is required by the rakyat especially those staying in rural areas.
Uggah noted that these residents of rural areas may use the Internet centre set up by MCMC to check on the status of their financial aid such as the Cost of Living Finance Aid or Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH) as well as access information disseminated by the federal and state government.
He disclosed that the setting up of Internet centres is allowed as it is carried out in green zones and complies with the stipulated guidelines such as social distancing and personal hygiene.
He also observed that there were more people, especially businesspeople, who are taking advantage of the Internet for electronic commerce and to conduct businesses presently. — DayakDaily
