KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (July 7): Companies whose personnel have been properly immunized against Covid-19, according to the Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA), should be allowed to operate at full capacity. The electrical and electronics (E&E) business, particularly the semiconductor ecosystem, has critical cross-industry linkages and applications, according to the association.
“This industry’s supply chain is heavily linked, whether within its own industry or with other industries, locally and globally.” The global semiconductor and electronics business is crucial to the global economy as well as the supply of critical components for medical devices, critical infrastructure, and healthcare equipment.
“At this time, the global electronics industry is experiencing an extreme component scarcity that is affecting medical equipment, automotive, and other electronics items,” it stated, adding that the E&E sector generated 6.8% of total GDP and 39% of total exports in 2020, employing 575,000 people.
Meanwhile, the association noted that several of its members had completed their first doses of vaccine for their employees, with the second doses set to begin today.
In addition, four new Program Imunisasi Industri Covid-19 Kerjasama Awam-Swasta (PIKAS) vaccine centers (PPVs) have opened in Negeri Sembilan, Penang, and Sarawak, with another four PIKAS PPVs opening in Melaka and Penang around mid-July.
Increased immunization rates would allow businesses and their supply chains to operate safely while reducing the danger of Covid-19.
“The government’s commitment to expediting the vaccination program for the safety of the rakyat and preparing the country for a robust economic rebound is shown in the number of PPVs set up statewide under PIKAS,” said its president Datuk Seri Wong Siew Hai.
MSIA also emphasized the importance of companies adhering to standard operating procedures (SOPs), conducting regular testing on employees, quarantining affected employees, and adhering to the legal requirements of the Employees’ Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodations, and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446), as well as establishing onsite or common PPVs to speed up vaccination.
Malaysia’s daily Covid-19 immunization rate increased to 340,043 yesterday (July 6) from 313,761 the day before, making it the country’s highest daily vaccination rate.
Selangor had the most first doses administered, with 57,473, followed by Kuala Lumpur (39,031) and Sarawak (39,031). (27,980). Sarawak had the highest number of people fully immunized, with 31,289, followed by Selangor (22,525) and Kuala Lumpur (22,525). (14,124).
In total, 9.66 million doses have been distributed around the country.
6.79 million people, or 20.75 percent of the population, have received their initial vaccinations, while 2.87 million, or 8.77 percent, have received all of their doses./n
