Miti urged to name factories exempted from MCO

The International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) has been asked to list down companies which have been exempted from shutting down due to the movement control order.

Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan said this is important so that the affected workers, as well as the general public, would know the reason behind the exemption.

"Some of these companies maybe are not being truthful. Therefore, being transparent would help the workers themselves to come out and monitor their situation," he said in a statement today.

Arutchelvan claimed that PSM had received complaints about several factories in Ipoh, Perak which continued operations on grounds that "special permission" was obtained from Miti.

"These companies have thousands of workers working there and we categorise them as non-essential as they are producing electrical products. Most of their products are also export-based.

"We believe there are many more companies getting similar exemptions from Miti. This goes against the whole point of a limited lockdown called by the government.

"It is of no use for the prime minister to plead to the rakyat to stay at home when big companies with huge workforce are allowed to operate as usual."

The ministry had said that only industries or factories that have received approval were allowed to operate during the movement control order.

In its list of frequently asked questions (FAQ), Miti said that factories producing essential products such as basic food items, agriculture products, household goods and pharmaceutical products are allowed to operate.

However, electrical and electronics (E&E) including semiconductors were also listed as products that are part of the supply chain of essential goods.

Meanwhile, Arutchelvan said the party also received complaints from some companies in Selangor who had shut their main gates and windows but remained operating inside under humid conditions.

"We have lodged a report to the police. And all the three numbers given by the Human Resource Ministry seem to be on a permanent engaged tone," added Arutchelvan.  - Mkini