Vegetable farmers and traders in Cameron Highlands are bound by the current standard operating procedure (SOP) between 8am to 8pm despite being in the essential service industry.
This matter was revealed by DAP's Tanah Rata assemblyperson Chiong Yoke Kong in his statement yesterday.
He said the latest restriction on operating hours has heavily affected the food supply chain in the highlands.
He also described the implementation of the policy on the agriculture industry as totally “out of touch” and “unrealistic”.
In this case, Chiong has written to the National Security Council (NSC), Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry, and Cameron Highlands District Council (MDCH) to seek policy revision.
He stressed that operating hours from 8am to 8pm is not suitable for the agriculture sector as this will heavily affect the freshness of vegetables.
“I am deeply disappointed with various levels of government agencies, especially MDCH.
“Although the government has been fighting the pandemic for over a year, they still failed to set up a proper SOP for the agriculture industry and are repeating the same mistakes like last year,” he lamented.
Chiong noted the government should be fully aware that vegetables are “one-day” products due to their freshness period.
If the authorities strictly restrict the industry’s operating hours, the flow of packaging and delivery of vegetables will surely be affected, he added.
“For example, if the products are sent to Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, farmers will only harvest in the evening and pack the vegetables during night time. Then drivers will deliver the products at midnight so that fresh vegetables can be supplied to the market in the early morning.
“But now the farmers and traders can only work between 8am and 8pm. This certainly has disrupted the supply chain including the production and supply of vegetables in the market,” he explained.
MDCH chairperson Ishak Md Napis has confirmed that the agriculture industry in Cameron Highlands must operate according to the latest SOP set by NSC.
“Yes… have to follow (operation hours) from 8am to 8pm as per NSC instruction,” he said when contacted by Malaysiakini.
Ishak stressed that the council was merely following the instruction from NSC when asked whether the agriculture industry should have more flexible operating hours.
However, he said the authority will consider adjusting the operating hours for the industry.
Malaysiakini also contacted Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and his office regarding this matter but to no avail.
According to the latest SOP by NSC, fisheries, plantation, agriculture, livestock and all industries which are related to the food chain are allowed to operate.
However, the guide did not mention whether the above industries can only operate from 8am to 8pm.
In order to tighten the current movement control order (MCO 3.0), Ismail previously announced that the operating hours of commercial premises are limited from 8am to 8pm.
Earlier this year, the government had set a time limit for restaurants and eateries to operate only between 6am and 8pm daily for seven states under MCO 2.0.
This led to some venting their frustration via Twitter.
The government then decided to extend the operating hours in states that are under MCO to 10pm. - Mkini
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