Ministry grants Heineken permission to operate during MCO

CORONAVIRUS | Heineken Malaysia Bhd has been granted permission to operate during the movement control order (MCO).

This is after the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, in a letter to Heineken sighted by Malaysiakini, agreed that the alcoholic beverages producer was a food supply operator and therefore can operate during the partial lockdown.

Heineken Malaysia, when contacted, confirmed to Malaysiakini that the letter is authentic.

"In reference to your application dated March 24, after scrutinising and checking the documents presented, the ministry finds your application fulfils the required criteria as an operator in the food supply sector under the MCO.

"Therefore, the ministry affirms and agrees that your businesses activities can open/operate to ensure sufficient food supply throughout the MCO enforcement.

The letter, dated March 31, was inked by the ministry's director-general Hasnol Zam Zam Ahmad.

In an effort to combat the coronavirus, the country has gone into a partial lockdown since March 18.

The MCO was supposed to end on March 31 but was extended until April 14.

Under the MCO, all non-essential businesses and services must close while people are only allowed to leave their homes for pressing reasons such as to restock food supply.

The measures have brought a large section of the country's economy to a standstill.

As of noon, Malaysia recorded 3,662 Covid-19 cases with 61 deaths.

Globally, 1.2 million have become infected and 65,841 have died to date. - Mkini