Trade guilds unclear on recovery plan criterion

 

The National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM) has demanded clarity over Putrajaya’s conditions to progress through the four phases of the National Recovery Plan.

According to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, to progress to each phase, targets in their areas - daily Covid-19 case count, intensive care bed use and vaccination rate - must be met.

However, the NCCIM said there should be clarity and transparency for the threshold set.

In terms of new daily Covid-19 case numbers, NCCIM said the government should clarify if this was based on a moving average - for instance seven, 14 or 21 days - or not.

In terms of intensive care bed use, NCCIM said the government should clarify what is considered "moderate" or "sufficient" levels.

In terms of vaccination, the NCCIM said the government should clarify if this involved one dose of vaccines or a full vaccination.

The NCCIM is an umbrella group for the country’s five biggest local trade guilds - Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM), Dewan Perniagaan Melayu Malaysia (DPMM), Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (MAICCI), Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI) and Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM).

The government, said the NCCIM, must also consider extending financial relief and income support schemes to SMEs and small businesses as part of the National Recovery Plan.

This includes an enhanced targeted bank loan moratorium scheme, extension of the wage subsidy scheme as opposed to one month in the Pemerkasa Plus scheme, provide special grants, provide government debt guarantees, extend the HRDF levy until end-December and provide a discount to companies with expiring foreign worker permits.

The NCCIM is also recommending RM500 cash handouts to tourist drivers, taxi drivers, bus drivers and e-hailing drivers.

The NCCIM also urged the government to coordinate among themselves when formulating Covid-19 protocols to ensure consistency and uniformity in enforcement efforts.

“Given that we have had more than a year experience to manage this pandemic, inadequate preparation, delay and uncalled for confusion is deemed highly unacceptable as it adds unnecessary burden on the households, individuals and businesses, which were already stressed out and still struggling to stay afloat during the pandemic,” said the NCCIM. - Mkini