Simple, clear SOPs can help economic recovery, govt told

 

Businesses, including factories, should be allowed to operate as long as all workers are fully vaccinated. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: An Umno leader has urged the government to simplify the SOPs for businesses and make them clear, now that an increasing number of businesses are beginning to reopen.

Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan, noting reports that the global supply chain would be disrupted until next year, said the government should adjust its policies to reduce the harm this could cause to Malaysia’s economic recovery.

He told FMT that he believed the SOPs in place for the resumption of business activities would soon replace vaccinations as the key factor in the recovery.

“Our vaccination rates are climbing steadily and, with Khairy Jamaluddin back in charge, one can assume minimal disruptions to the plans,” he said.

Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan.

“Vaccination rates were once perceived as a panacea to everything. But we now know better. The spread of the Delta variant has meant that countries around the world with decent vaccination rates, including Malaysia, are facing difficulties.

“Close to 30% of our output is related to the global value chain. If there isn’t clarity in operational SOPs and reopening plans soon, our companies will lose their customers overseas.”

Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Micci) executive director Shaun Cheah also said Putrajaya should keep SOPs simple.

He said any business should be allowed to operate as long as all workers were fully vaccinated, adding that he believed there should not be a limit on the number of workers.

“This will be easier on the enforcement authorities, with no need to calculate 60% of the workforce and whatnot. They can randomly pick any worker and ask him to show his vaccination certificate.”

Shahril also said the decline in global output had had many consequences, such as a tenfold increase since May last year in the cost of containers transported from Asia to Europe.

Pointing to Selangor, Johor and Penang, he said industries in those key industrial states were still operating at reduced capacities with uncertainty over when and how they would be able to return to close-to-full capacity.

“This means they will find it difficult to commit to or explain adjustment plans to customers,” he added. - FMT