Pikom: IT should be considered 'very essential service'

CORONAVIRUS | The National Tech Association of Malaysia (Pikom) has urged the government to consider the IT support and services industry as a "very essential service".

In a statement yesterday, Pikom said IT systems are the "last mile" for many essential services.

"This includes having many systems to access the file server, HR, payroll, accounting, logistics, inventory and warehouse, sales and CRM (customer relationship management).

"This can only be done if the IT infrastructure and applications continue operating on-site and be made available to the employees.

"It means that some of the functions cannot be done from home. It requires having a technical staff on-site or at the office to ensure that the application is available," said Pikom.

Moreover, Pikom said some essential services need IT personnel on-site to replace hardware and that the government must ensure IT products, parts and components are sold during the movement control order (MCO) period.

"While the industry understands that this may undermine the effectiveness of the MCO, it is imperative that Malaysians are able to work from home with as much of the tools as possible, as long as the infrastructure and connectivity are up and running.

"This makes it easier for many companies to adopt work from home arrangement," he said.

Pikom warned that without IT support and services, more than a million businesses would be affected.

The association's chairperson Danny Lee said Pikom has been lobbying the government, Prime Minister Muhyiddin, International Trade and Industry Ministry and the National Security Council (NSC) on this matter for two weeks.

Lee said Malaysia can emulate Singapore, which has allowed the IT sector to operate during lockdown with safe distancing requirements.

He stressed that Malaysia's IT sector contributed 18.5 percent to GDP, supported virtually every other critical industry in the country and employed over a million people.

On April 10, the government had extended the number of sectors allowed to operate during the MCO period. IT services were not part of this new policy. - Mkini