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Work Together to Chart a Path Towards Recovery The government has been urged to engage with and work together to chart a path towards recovery, as many sectors are in need of assistance, said Industries Unite, a grouping of more than 110 representatives from various industries. MRCA is one of the members of Industries Unite. ur members look forward to a meeting with the Prime Minister soonest to raise these and many other issues and look to have purposeful dialogue with the relevant ministries,” the group said in a statement recently. While Industries Unite agreed that the safety, health and wellbeing of the people was paramount and lauded efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, it added that “we regret that there is no clarity on the government’s plan for the economic wellbeing of the business community during this period”. The group also welcomed the rigorous testing and targeted enhanced movement control order in certain areas with high case numbers, but other areas where
“O
Shirley Tay
Malaysia Retailer Vol 9 No 1
the risk is low must be allowed to re-open, it said. “Businesses that (must) comply with mandatory testing face an added burden on their cash flow. We ask that they be provided with resources and funds to be in compliance,” added the group. Industries Unite also listed several requests to the government such as a six-month moratorium on loans and financial obligations as well as increased support for worker wage subsidies, among others. When MCO 2.0 was imposed, the Industries Unite MCO 2.0 urged the government to let them have a say before standard operating procedures (SOPs) for businesses are drawn up. In a virtual media conference on January 30, Industries Unite MCO 2.0 group coordinator Datuk Irwin Cheong said the group
Tan Sri Teo Chiang Kok.
came to a general consensus that they want engagement with the authorities. They said that the government’s instructions with regard to midstream and downstream businesses were not clear. The retail industry leaders had a conference meeting in February this year with the Ministry of International Trade & Industry (MITI), KPDNHEP, Polis Diraja Malaysia and Kementrian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM) senior officers on the clarity of enforcement of SOPs. MRCA President Shirley Tay told The Star said after the first MCO last March, at least 70% still had jobs to return to. “During the recovery MCO, 50% to 60% businesses managed to return. However, in the second MCO this time, business dropped a great deal.
Datuk Wira Ameer Ali Mydin.
Datuk Irwin Cheong.
