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KUALA LUMPUR: Industries and individuals in Malaysia have been urged to strictly adhere to COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) as a reciprocal gesture to the government’s decision to allow most businesses to remain operational during the closing.
In a televised speech on Thursday (February 4), Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said that the government has listened to the opinions of the people by not shutting down the economy during the period of the motion control order (MCO).
“So please reciprocate this gesture in strict compliance with SOPs so that we can ensure that business and commerce will continue to operate while helping to break the chain of COVID-19 transmissions in the workplace and in the community, “he said. .
Last month, the MCO was reinstated in all states except Sarawak through February 18 to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The country has so far registered 226,912 COVID-19 cases and 809 deaths.
READ: MCO spread to all Malaysian states except Sarawak until Feb 18, says Chief Minister Ismail Sabri
In his speech on Thursday, Muhyiddin said the latest data shows that 59 percent of COVID-19 infections occurred in workplaces.
He stressed the need to comply with SOPs in factories, construction areas, worker accommodation, and workplaces, as many infections occurred in these areas during the third wave.
The prime minister said that a total lockdown with almost all economic sectors closed would be more effective in breaking the COVID-19 infection chain, but this would also have serious consequences for the country’s economy.
However, at the same time, if the movement of people is not controlled, the exponential increase in new cases of COVID-19 would paralyze the public health system, he said.
“Therefore, in this pandemic situation, the government needs to find a balanced method, ensuring that people’s economic life is guaranteed and people’s lives continue to be protected,” he said, referring to the government’s decision to allow critical economic sectors continue to operate with strict SOPs in place.
Muhyiddin added that the government would not hesitate to take strict action on any party that has violated current regulations or SOPs.
READ: Malaysian merchants anticipated a sales boom ahead of Chinese New Year, but MCO has dashed their hopes
The Emergency Management Technical Committee was examining provisions in the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act that will be amended to allow for tougher and faster enforcement actions, he added.
These included the immediate closure of businesses that do not comply with regulations, higher fines for repeat offenders or those who received warnings, as well as disciplinary actions against public officials who violated the work from home policy.
HOLD THE GENERAL ELECTION ONCE SAFE
On the state of emergency effective from January 11 to August 1, Muhyiddin said in his speech on Thursday that the king’s proclamation has no other purpose than to curb the transmission of COVID-19 more effectively and protect people’s lives. .
“I wish to reiterate my commitment to advise the king to dissolve parliament once the spread of COVID-19 has receded and it is safe to hold elections,” he said.
Muhyiddin called on his colleagues from both the government and the opposition to come together and combine efforts to fight the pandemic without regard for political differences.
The prime minister is scheduled to arrive in Indonesia later on Thursday for his first official overseas trip since taking over as prime minister last year.
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