KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (July 2): The implementation of the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) in most portions of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur could have been better planned, according to the Malaysian Employers Federation, because these are densely populated districts that generate 40% of the country’s GDP (MEF). The decision, according to MEF president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman, will be difficult for both employers and employees, but it is a vital action to stop the escalating trend of everyday new Covid-19 infections.
“From the start, the number of new infections per day was high, and it should have been addressed much sooner with tighter controls like the EMCO,” he said in a statement.
Employers will be unable to withstand another two weeks of lockdowns under the EMCO following four weeks of lockdowns under the full movement control order (FMCO), according to Syed Hussain.
“Many more employers will close, particularly small and medium firms and microenterprises (MSMEs) that are not generally classified as critical economic and service sectors, increasing the misery.
“It would be incredibly difficult for them to stay in business without any revenue during the shutdown,” he said.
Employers were given such short warning, according to the MEF president, that it is not possible to “turn on and off” quickly since there are many logistical issues that require planning prior to the shutdown.
“The ad hoc modifications from FMCO to EMCO will cause a lot of anguish for companies,” he said.
Only employers or persons in the trade, he claims, are aware of such restrictions, and the MEF has repeatedly urged that the industry be included in National Security Council talks because the decisions made affect them.
“Any plan can only succeed if all of the stakeholders are involved. The mother of all success is execution.
“Let us all learn from this, and in the future, good preparation and execution must be thoroughly considered before execution,” he stated.
Syed Hussain also expects that the loan moratorium facilities in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor would not be disturbed throughout the EMCO period.
“Even before companies may reach out for help via the recently launched PEMULIH program, they are now subject to the EMCO,” he added, hoping that the banks will continue to authorize the moratorium for those who need it because employers, employees, and the rakyat can no longer wait.
He also suggested to the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) that the loan moratorium be implemented automatically rather than by application, and that there be no interest or any fees associated with it.
In the meanwhile, he said, aside from the EMCO, the government should increase and speed up screening and immunization in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur by mobilizing all government agencies and private-sector facilities.
“What is required is rapid implementation of screening and vaccination, as well as increased utilization of all government and private sector resources to accomplish the intended target in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur,” he said./n
