KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) and Malaysian Islamic Chamber of Commerce (MICC) have welcomed the government's initiative to ease the burden of people due to Covid-19 and the Movement Control Order (MCO).
However, they believe that more must be done especially if the MCO was to be extended after March 31.
They also applaud the new allocations to purchase medical equipment to appoint 2,000 new staff on a contract basis, and to assist the state governments in handling the crisis.
However MCCC and MICC strongly believe that the efforts to enforce social distancing through MCO will be more effective by coordinating the private sector to speed up the procurement and local production of test kits, PPE (Personal protective equipment), ICU (intensive care unit) equipment, ventilators, gloves and face masks and ensure their optimum distribution.
“Where local production is possible, the Government should organise all manufacturers – and rope in other businesses that can convert some of their operation to join in production – to maximise production, for coordinated distribution at one common price.
“For face masks and other supplies sought by ordinary citizens, the government should fix an affordable price (with subsidies to absorb the difference from cost price when necessary) and restrict purchase limit to consumers using colour IDs to stop hoarding,” they said in a joint statement here today.
Both MCCC and MICC also said that the government should suspend the planned implementation of SIRIM-DOSH PPE certification scheme.
“Most PPE are already certified to either European, American or some other international standards. In any case, the certification requires traveling of SIRIM auditors to another country which cannot take place at this time,” they said.
To avoid panic buying the MCCC and MICC said there must be no disruption or sign of disruption to food and other essential services.
This entails:
- A stock-based identification of what constitutes essential services and their supply chains, so that the restriction and exemption may be adjusted over time based on demand and supply. In particular, producers, importers and distributors of food as well as medical and personnel protective equipment should be allowed to operate at full capacity, with hefty penalty on failure to enforce social distancing; and
- Port clearance and delivery of essential supplies such as personnel protective equipment, sanitiser, detergents, and medical equipment should be fast-tracked with minimum hindrance and cut-down on red tape.
The two chambers also called for a safety net to be in place to cover individuals, families and businesses.
This entailed a RM1,200 monthly for Bantuan Sara Hidup recipients for the duration of MCO.
“Sufficient support for other daily income earners including millions of foreign workers to ensure social order and no eruption of crimes.
“Sufficient subsistence and/or social support for others marginalised sectors including homeless, refugees, mental patients and victims of family violence.
“Allowance for active contributors of EPF to withdraw their 11 per cent contribution in the past 6 months,” said MCCC and MICC.
Lastly they called on the Government to enhance inter-ministry coordination to have a unified messaging and directive from a single source instead of multiple ministries issuing uncoordinated and sometimes conflicting statements.