F&B sector roasts Miti over CIMS 3.0 debacle
If your favourite take out food outlet is not operating today, it is likely because they are struggling with the new approval system handled by the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti).
Currently, all businesses which want to operate during the current "total lockdown" period must obtain written approval through Miti's Covid-19 intelligent management system (CIMS 3.0).
However, two days into the lockdown, access to the website is spotty, often returning a "503 Backend fetched failed" or a "Ralat 500" error message.
When contacted, leaders of the Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association (Presma) and Coffee Shop Operators Association expressed frustration, anxiety and disappointment with the CIMS 3.0.
Presma president Jawahar Ali Taib Khan said he had assigned two staff to apply for CIMS 3.0 approval since May 31, only to succeed at 6am today.
"We have been struggling for two days. I am informed that less than 100 of our approximately 12,500 members have managed to key in their details.
"Luckily, the authorities have not started enforcement yet," he told Malaysiakini.
Jawahar said now he is in an anxious wait for CIMS 3.0 approval which will provide him with the crucial approval letter with a QR code which his staff needs in order to pass the police roadblocks to come to work.
He urged the government to exempt eateries from getting approval from Miti to operate during the lockdown.
"This will also make things easier for Miti too as their website won't be congested like this," he said.
"We want to follow the rules, but the government must understand the problems faced by us too. We urge them to reduce the red tape," said Jawahar.
Malaysia Singapore Coffee Shop Proprietors General Association president Wong Teu Hoon said he was unaware of any association member who had managed to obtain CIMS 3.0 approval as of this morning.
He estimated that more than 50 percent of his association members chose to close since yesterday instead of taking the risk of being fined.
"We have approximately 20,000 members nationwide with over half of them above 60 years old who are not Internet savvy. I myself have my son helping me apply for approval online," he said.
"Why is this happening? There was no issue in the past as we didn't have to apply for permission then," he said.
"On the ground, the directives we received were unclear. In Melaka, we were told by local authorities we could operate as usual but our members from other states were told they have to apply for Miti approval," he said.
Forced to shutter
Wong, who is also the president of Pan Malaysia Koo Soo Restaurants and Chefs Association, said approximately 10,000 restaurant operators encountered similar issues when they applied to get approval from the Miti website.
SME Association of Malaysia vice-president Chin Chee Seong told Malaysiakini that unlike previous movement control orders (MCO), the latest one involved an added complexity since the food and beverage operators had to go through the CIMS 3.0 system as well.
Chin said his association was in frequent communication with Miti and understood that there was a stringent vetting process involved.
He said that some association members, even though they were in essential services, were forced to shutter yesterday since they could not obtain CIMS 3.0 approval.
"A lot of them are not opening, especially F&B outlets, retail or own restaurants. They say 'no point' since it is the first day (of the MCO) and a lot of people are staying at home," he said.
Jawahar urged the government to cut the red tape for the food and beverage sector because many in the food business were not tech-savvy.
"The operators want to follow the rules but the government must understand the problem faced by us. We urge the government to reduce the red tape, no need for this sector to apply (for approval) as we are one of the 17 essential services.
"This will also make things easier for Miti also [...] we urge the government to consider this," he said.
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ReplyDeleteWee KHAT Siong used to defend drinking alcohol in moderation, tell grandmother stories to defend Chinese Medicine Shops. Now Boh Lam Phar...? Afraid of DaGe PAS?
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Closing of breweries should not be based on discrimination, says MICCI
By NST Business - June 2, 2021
KUALA LUMPUR: The government's move to close breweries from operating in the current Movement Control Order (MCO 3.0) should not be based on discrimination or sentiments.
Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MICCI) said while it condones responsible consumption of alcoholic and high sugar caffeine beverages, a little luxury or indulgence goes a long way in these stressful times.
Most importantly, Malaysian brewers contribute close to RM200 million a month which works out to annually RM2.2 billion in much needed duties that are paid in advance to the country's treasury for pandemic assistance packages and upkeeping medical facilities.
The taxes paid in advance by the breweries also goes towards the rakyat assistance and funding of medical facilities.
Further, breweries in Malaysia collectively sustains directly and indirectly 60,000 jobs in their supply chain and operate with minimal workforce as they are highly automated as opposed to the heavy dependent on production workers that are allowed to operate.
"Shouldn't breweries be also classed as strategically essential on top of other sugary and caffeine beverages that has already classed as 'essential'?," asks MICCI executive director Shaun E Cheah.
He said it is shown that obesity and diabetes are particularly susceptible to the ravages of Covid-19 and the government recognises this by imposing sugar tax to reduce the intake of sugars for health reasons.
On Tuesday, senior minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said all breweries in Malaysia will not be allowed to operate during this latest recent movement control order to curb the spread of Covid-19.
While breweries are classified under the food and beverage (F&B) industry, malt liquor products (beers) are not considered essential goods, the minister said.
Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd and Heineken Malaysia Bhd are the only two licensed breweries in Malaysia.
CGS-CIMB Research in a report today said the government directive is a negative surprise, as both Carlsberg Brewery and Heineken Malaysia earnings will be negatively affected, on the back of lower production output and lower sales from fewer marketing activities.
Further, the research firm did not discount the possibility of consumers may have no choice but to resort to buying illicit beers in the event that off-trade sales locations are fully sold out of their beer inventories if the MCO 3.0 is extended beyond the current two weeks.
UNQUOTE
Azmin is super hungry for power.
ReplyDeleteFor the MCO 3.0 full lockdown , his Uber Alles Ministry has been given the sole authority to actually approve business applications to operate, regardless if the SOP says their sector is one of those allowed to operate.