Govt relaxes MCO rules, allows optical industry to operate

 

Optometry services and optical shops, which were originally barred from operating in areas under the movement control order (MCO), are now allowed to open for business from 6am to 8pm.

"Yes, optometrists are now allowed to operate. Yes, they are essential indeed," said Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa on Twitter today.

When contacted, Annuar, who is also the Federal Territories security working committee chairperson, said the decision was made by the National Security Council (NSC) yesterday.

"Several decisions were made after taking into consideration the public's view. Some were decided at the NSC level, and some were decided at the local authority level, according to the guidelines set by the NSC," he said in a public briefing on the matter via a Facebook livestream.

"Firstly, we received feedback on optometry service shops or optical shops, which were initially included in the list that could not be opened during the MCO period.

"After considering the need, it was then decided that the NSC was satisfied that optometry shops can operate (and be listed) as essential services," he said.

Yesterday, the Malaysian Association of Practising Opticians (Mapo) and the Malaysian Optometry Association (MOA) urged the government to relax the standard operating procedure to allow the industry to operate during the two-week MCO period.

They insisted they should be counted in the list of "essential industries" and have criticised the government for not allowing them to operate.

MOA estimated the industry stands to lose RM108 million per month during the latest MCO implemented across five states and three federal territories.

Initially, opticians were on the list of things not allowed under the MCO. However, Sabah, which is one of the eight states and federal territories that reinstated the MCO from Jan 13, allowed optometrists who have registered with their respective professional bodies to operate.

Yesterday, the government also agreed to allow self-service, or coin-operated, laundries in areas under the MCO to operate, provided there are staff present to monitor SOP compliance. - Mkini