KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (July 4): The Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (MARGMA) has petitioned the government to enable Selangor glove factories to function under the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO), which took effect yesterday (July 3). MARGMA president Dr Supramaniam Shanmugam said in a statement today that the group is requesting an urgent meeting with the Ministry of International Trade and Industry to discuss the problem, as Selangor produces 58 percent of all gloves made in Malaysia.
When the threat of a glove industry shutdown was mentioned, he added, there was a lot of concern in the global healthcare sector, because medical gloves are desperately needed to safeguard frontline workers and hospital employees.
“Medical examination gloves, like face masks, are critical personal protective equipment (PPE) items that governments all around the world require, particularly during current pandemic season to combat the spread of Covid-19 and other infections.”
Global clients of our manufacturers have been calling with great concern about the scarcity of manufacturing and delivery of gloves since the government announced the imposed EMCO on the state of Selangor.
“As the pandemic has now developed into another variety, our members are under immense pressure from global hospitals and healthcare professionals,” he said.
According to him, MARGMA members produce and export gloves to 195 nations throughout the world, accounting for 67 percent of worldwide demand.
“Our members have been supportive of the government’s efforts to combat the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic, and have dealt with the 60 percent ordinance in MCO 3.0 to ensure that there is no significant shortage of this critical PPE supply to the world.” Even if delivery lead times had been extended slightly, they were still reasonable.
“On the other hand, EMCO has committed to vaccinate all of its staff at their own expense,” he said, adding that its MARGMA members have agreed to do so.
All glove makers’ employees are registered with the Public-Private Partnership Industrial Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PIKAS), Selangor Vaccination Programme (SELVAX), and the most recent Vaccination Programme for the Agri-commodity Sector, in addition to the National Immunisation Programme on MySejahtera (VACOMS).
“However, we are still waiting for vaccination delivery as of today,” he added.
He also stated that MARGMA has urged the government to make saliva-based Covid-19 test kits available as soon as possible, and that MARGMA members have agreed to cover all costs because it will considerably increase the frequency with which workers are screened./n
