Police and Armed Forces personnel patrol the vicinity of Kampung Pulau Betong in Balik Pulau April 8, 2020. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin

KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 — Putrajaya today released a new list of industries allowed to operate, after earlier announcing that the movement control order (MCO) has been extended for another two weeks.

Among the Ministry of International Trade and Industry’s (Miti) list of outlets allowed to operate within the standard operating procedures are barbers and laundry, but not self-service outlets for the latter.

Other sectors allowed are: automotive (limited to complete built-up models, equipment, components and after-sale services such as maintenance); hardware, electrical and electronic stores and optometrists in the wholesale and retail industry; machinery and equipment and aerospace.

Also included are: science, professional and technical services including research and development (incidental to legal practice, oil and gas, Covid-19 R&D activities and testing labs); social healthcare (including registered traditional and complementary Chinese medicine practitioners) and construction related services.

Companies in the additional sectors listed may submit their full online application to Miti at www.miti.gov.my beginning Monday, April 13, 2020, from 9am.

“Following the presentations by Miti, the Ministry of Finance, Khazanah Nasional Berhad and Bank Negara, the Cabinet has decided to allow several additional economic sectors to operate in phases on condition of strict adherence to health and safety guidelines.

“The government’s decision is based on findings from studies that indicate that the spread of Covid-19 would not only have a significant impact on health, but would also have detrimental effects on the economy and the well-being of the people, in particular, the SMEs which constitute the largest contributor to the nation’s workforce,” senior minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said in a statement.

He added that the revised list of sectors was made based on several considerations such as their importance in the global value chain and the country’s exports; high value-added multiplier in the economic sector; impact on the sustainability of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and size of workforce involved.

Azmin also added that companies in the sectors that were allowed to operate must comply with the requirements of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

“In addition to adhering to these enhanced terms and guidelines, operating permits are also subject to compliance with the requirements set by MOH and guidelines by other relevant enforcement agencies from time to time.

“Failure to comply will result in the immediate revocation of the operating permit and legal action,” the senior minister said, adding that the government had always exercised utmost care and responsibility in dealing with the Covid-19 outbreak to ensure the people’s wellbeing.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said a strict standard operating procedure that would observe health guidelines will be issued for these industries as they reopen.

This came after Muhyiddin announced the third phase of the MCO, to start April 15 until April 28.