Anwar: MCO will only get longer if manufacturers allowed to operate during lockdown
PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim speaks to reporters after meeting with the Pakatan Harapan presidential council in Petaling Jaya January 12, 2021. — Picture by Firdaus Latif
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 25 — Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said that the government’s decision to allow the manufacturing sector to operate during the movement control order (MCO) period would only serve to prolong it and not reduce the number of Covid-19 infections.
He was referring to a letter issued by the EU-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Eurocham Malaysia) to its members that Putrajaya may announce a total economic shutdown after February 4 should the number of Covid-19 cases continue to rise and that the main source of infections comes from the manufacturing sector.
“Firstly, if there is an admission by the government that the majority of Covid-19 spread is taking place in the foreign worker community and in worker dormitories, under what pretence does the government believe that the current MCO, which does not specifically close down those camps and sectors, will successfully reduce the spread of Covid-19 infections?
“Leaving highly contagious sectors open serves only to prolong the MCO period at the expense of millions of Malaysians who are doing their part to slow the spread,” he said in a statement.
The PKR president added that the high rate of spread among foreign workers due to their close proximity in their dormitories has been a known risk factor for months and that the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government has had ample time to mobilise resources and enforce stricter standard operating procedures (SOPs) but have not done so.
“We have seen countless reports about MCO violations taking place in dormitories. Why are companies allowed to remain in violation of MCO SOPs without penalty?
“Unlike Singapore, which moved to implement mass testing in its migrant workforce population, Malaysia continues to drag its feet on this fundamental and largely achievable step,” he said.
He added that the Eurocham letter included basic recommendations from Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti) to the manufacturing sector which should have been made and implemented months ago.
“The Eurocham letter validates the feeling many Malaysians have expressed to me that the government’s Covid-19 response is perpetually months behind the curve based on the sum total of learning that has informed more capable responses in other countries,” he said.
He then blasted Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz for suggesting that the current MCO will not have a major impact on the economy because many sectors — including construction and manufacturing — remain open.
“If a full lockdown is anticipated on February 4, and the basis for imposing a full lockdown is already known as of at least January 22, then the optimistic statements about the limited economic impact of the MCO are nothing more than lies and obfuscation,” he said.
Anwar then called on the government to dig deeper into its pockets and help corporations — indirectly helping to contain the pandemic — by increasing and implementing better wage subsidies, offering tax grants to corporations to upgrade their workers quarters and government sponsored mass testings.
“We have to recognise the fact that before the pandemic, corporations have consistently paid yearly taxes in excess of RM70 billion a year,” he said.
Yesterday, a letter detailing a summary of Eurocham Malaysia chief executive Sven Schneider’s meeting with Miti, started making its rounds on social media.
The letter indicated that Putrajaya is set to announce a total economic shutdown after February 4, should the number of Covid-19 cases in the nation continue to not show any improvement.
Later, the organisation said that a leaked internal memo was issued only for its members, after an informal discussion with the Miti last Friday and denied that Putrajaya is mulling a complete economic lockdown after February 4.
He was referring to a letter issued by the EU-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Eurocham Malaysia) to its members that Putrajaya may announce a total economic shutdown after February 4 should the number of Covid-19 cases continue to rise and that the main source of infections comes from the manufacturing sector.
“Firstly, if there is an admission by the government that the majority of Covid-19 spread is taking place in the foreign worker community and in worker dormitories, under what pretence does the government believe that the current MCO, which does not specifically close down those camps and sectors, will successfully reduce the spread of Covid-19 infections?
“Leaving highly contagious sectors open serves only to prolong the MCO period at the expense of millions of Malaysians who are doing their part to slow the spread,” he said in a statement.
The PKR president added that the high rate of spread among foreign workers due to their close proximity in their dormitories has been a known risk factor for months and that the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government has had ample time to mobilise resources and enforce stricter standard operating procedures (SOPs) but have not done so.
“We have seen countless reports about MCO violations taking place in dormitories. Why are companies allowed to remain in violation of MCO SOPs without penalty?
“Unlike Singapore, which moved to implement mass testing in its migrant workforce population, Malaysia continues to drag its feet on this fundamental and largely achievable step,” he said.
He added that the Eurocham letter included basic recommendations from Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti) to the manufacturing sector which should have been made and implemented months ago.
“The Eurocham letter validates the feeling many Malaysians have expressed to me that the government’s Covid-19 response is perpetually months behind the curve based on the sum total of learning that has informed more capable responses in other countries,” he said.
He then blasted Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz for suggesting that the current MCO will not have a major impact on the economy because many sectors — including construction and manufacturing — remain open.
“If a full lockdown is anticipated on February 4, and the basis for imposing a full lockdown is already known as of at least January 22, then the optimistic statements about the limited economic impact of the MCO are nothing more than lies and obfuscation,” he said.
Anwar then called on the government to dig deeper into its pockets and help corporations — indirectly helping to contain the pandemic — by increasing and implementing better wage subsidies, offering tax grants to corporations to upgrade their workers quarters and government sponsored mass testings.
“We have to recognise the fact that before the pandemic, corporations have consistently paid yearly taxes in excess of RM70 billion a year,” he said.
Yesterday, a letter detailing a summary of Eurocham Malaysia chief executive Sven Schneider’s meeting with Miti, started making its rounds on social media.
The letter indicated that Putrajaya is set to announce a total economic shutdown after February 4, should the number of Covid-19 cases in the nation continue to not show any improvement.
Later, the organisation said that a leaked internal memo was issued only for its members, after an informal discussion with the Miti last Friday and denied that Putrajaya is mulling a complete economic lockdown after February 4.
Brunei just recorded 261 days without local transmission, their Health Minister never received Tan Sri title....ha ha ha....only an award from Red Cross for exceptional performance.
ReplyDeleteBut here in Malaysia our TAN SRI DG like Yiddin has completely lost the plot, rendered obedient and subservient to the gomen whose only objective is political survival.
my view is most enterprise will choose biz over pendemic, thats y we see every industry give their reason of no lockdown or no close shop. if total lockdown is not workable in the long term, the govt must impose strict rule on how establishment run their operation, a eg is all activities must cut by half or less, any violation is heavily penalised, its always easier to control the institution n biz than commoner.
ReplyDeleteduring my stay in the hotel, i notice the sop is observed only when the number of guest is small, however during weekend n peak, hell break loose, one can see the same happen in flight/airport with half capacity n full, or in any other activities like temple, mall, pasar, restaurant etc etc. thus the choice available shd be either half, or none if total lockdown not viable.
manufacturing like glove strive for record profit n full capacity, which mean pn pick economy over health as if there is great wall to segregate the factory n community, indicating there will be continuing mco to show pn idiot r doing their job without loss of tax money, while most sohai commoner plus student either sit home surfing net or play computer 24/7. ergo i believe in the next decade, msian young can still easily find a job in neighbor country like vietnam n indonesia, n our malay grads sure no problem since they speak n write indonesian well.
n when election come, we hear the same preaching again asalkan orang kito.
Wakakakakaka…
DeleteThe 犬养mfer loses the capitalistic blot that it so highly attuned to!
Or it's just pure confused.
pure confused n no idea what u talking about. i do a fang fang n share my view with some suggestion, diff is i whack pn while fang fang dare not touch anything ccp. conclusion is even though both state hv zombie, symptoms is quite diff, maybe one eating too many bat.
DeleteU DEFINITELY can't fathom the intricacies lied underneath my takes lah.
DeleteMeme-ed capitalistic indoctrination rooted too deep in that petrified jelly of yrs!
"do a fang fang n share my view with some suggestion"
There lies yr f*cked mind, as been subconsciously displayed! Fang fang fabricated stories & yr views r just if the same - manufactured out from a sick mind.
"fang fang dare not touch anything ccp"
!!!
U read the REAL copy of 方方日记?
U & fang fang - symptoms is quite diff, but both r small minded cloaking katak of the f*cked kind.