FMM calls for stricter Covid-19 prevention SOPs instead of total lockdown to avert 'irreparable damage' to economy

KUALA LUMPUR (May 20): The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FFM) relayed support for stricter standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and its opposition over a total lockdown, asserting that it will "cost irreparable damage" to the economy.

The FFM in a press release yesterday acknowledged the recent spike in Covid-19 infections with new cases hitting a new high of 6,075 as well as the healthcare system’s dire position, but urged the government to continue operating under the movement control order 2.0 (MCO 2.0) model coupled with stricter SOPs.

“The FMM strongly urges the government under the MCO 3.0 to not institute any form of lockdown, be it nationwide or for states with high infection rate such as Selangor.

“Continue with the MCO 2.0 model to allow the economic sectors to operate but institute stricter SOPs to bring down the infection rates quickly.

“[SOPs] such as stricter restrictions on mobility of people and encouraging to stay home, reschedule work shifts in plants by having less people in operations based on individual company assessment, practise full Work From Home (WFH) for those companies that are able to and have necessary support facilities to do so,” said FMM president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai.

The FMM stressed on continued necessary aid including financial aid to continue assisting industries that are seriously impacted by MCO 3.0 and the acceleration of the inoculation programme including expediting the programme for the economic sectors to achieve faster herd immunity.

The federation did acknowledge the effectiveness of previous lockdowns but consequently referred to the damage inflicted on the economy.

“There is no doubt that the previous MCOs implemented by the government, i.e. MCO 1.0 from March 18, 2020, to May 3, 2020, and MCO 2.0 from Jan 13, 2021, to Feb 18, 2021, were effective in bringing down the Covid-19 infections but at the same time they, especially MCO 1.0, had a damaging impact on the economy.

“The impact of MCO 1.0, which was an almost full lockdown situation where only essential services were allowed to operate at 50% capacity, was very severe on the economy, resulting in a drop in GDP to -17.1% in the second quarter of 2020 and loss of jobs hitting 826,100 in May 2020,” Soh stated.

The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) had reported a reduction in infection clusters at factories from January 2021, which FMM attributed to strict adherence to SOPs.

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