Amcham: EMCO ignores success of companies that maintain high safety standards

 

The American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (Amcham) is gravely concerned that the implementation of the enhanced movement control order (MCO) has ignored the success of companies that have consistently maintained the highest standards of safety at their premises.

Its chief executive officer Siobhan Das said over the past few months, many multinationals have increased health screenings to further protect their workforce - a move which has been lauded by local and federal authorities as exemplary.

“It is time the authorities start to differentiate between the good and bad actors and allow companies that are known to have a good track record to operate,” she said in a media statement.

Das said locking down safe working environments that were closely monitored could potentially exacerbate the transmission in communities where the population is not being tested or checked on a regular basis.

“Moreover, many sophisticated facilities are unable to turn-off and turn-on at will; a factor that seems to be lost on the authorities and groups demanding total lockdown,” she said.

Das said Amcham has also urged the government to use a more balanced approach and to work with industries to protect both lives and livelihoods via active engagement with these companies.

“A narrative that supports the workforce being engaged safely while working with the community to address potential hotspots will contribute to maintaining Malaysia as a critical part of the global economy,” she said.

Yesterday, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced the implementation of the enhanced MCO in 34 districts in Selangor and 14 localities in Kuala Lumpur for 14 days, from July 3-16, 2021.

- Bernama