KUALA LUMPUR: Several business sectors are still in the dark as to whether they are allowed to operate under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).
Nafizul Najib, 43, who conducts skills training programmes, said the announcement on the CMCO in Selangor, Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur, beginning Oct 14, is ambiguous and has raised question marks among business owners.
"I have a three-day training workshop with a government agency, starting tomorrow.
"Do I have to shorten the workshop duration to one day. Or can I continue since all business sectors are technically allowed to operate?", he asked, adding that the event organisers are equally puzzled on their next course of action.
Nafizul said the authorities should have put in place necessary measures prior to announcing the CMCO.
"They should have thought it through and published a webpage, laying out the business sectors that are allowed to operate and vice-versa, at least a few days before the announcement.
"Even if I wanted to switch my workshop to a virtual mode, there is not enough time.
"I have to set up a digital platform, send email blasts to participants, restructure my training module. None of this can be done in 24 hours," he said.
Nafizul said soft skills training providers are only just recuperating from their losses since the Movement Control Order (MCO), and that another round of CMCO done in haste is unfair to them.
"We have been adhering to all the standard operating procedures (SOPs), which is why you don't hear Covid-19 clusters emerging from training workshops.
"So why are we forced to bear the brunt of the irresponsible few?" he asked.
Likewise, Chris Aruel, 46, who owns a production house, was left perplexed by the announcement on the CMCO for Selangor, Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur.
"I'm trying hard to make sense of the announcement. If all business sectors can operate but interstate travel is not allowed, then how do I carry out my shoots, which are scheduled in Melaka and Penang?" he asked.
Chris said the CMCO could have been better planned given that the production industry has only just been gathering momentum after the MCO ended.
"The MCO forced us to start back from square one. In fact, the last payment that I received from my client was 10 months ago.
"Currently, all my clients have introduced a Covid-19 clause in our contract, which they can invoke to halt production work until the situation improves.
"If they do that, then my production crew and I are left without any income.
"I cannot justify to my clients to continue the shoots unless the government gives a clear indication that production houses are allowed to operate," he said.
Meanwhile, the aviation sector also appear to be in the dark whether it will be business as usual or otherwise.
A source from Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) told the New Straits Times that the aviation sector has yet to receive any directives about the CMCO from the government.
"The recent announcement is too general. We can only decide our next course of action once the Transport Ministry issues a directive on the CMCO," the source said.