Electrical, electronics sector resumes operations in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, May 4, 2020, NST. The electrical and electronics sector is all set to resume operations during the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), which kicks off today, New Straits Times reported.

Electrical and Electronics Association of Malaysia (TEEAM) president Siew Choon Thye said since the sector was listed under non-essential, it was important for it to be fully operational, now that the green light had been given by the federal government.

Resumption of services, he said, would enable the sector to meet the anticipated increase in supply and demand from consumers, especially from the healthcare sector.

He said the manufacturing arm of the sector was operational under phase one, two and three of the Movement Control Order (MCO) and now would operate to its full capacity under the CMCO.

The CMCO also allowed electrical and electronic stores to be fully operational, Siew added.

“About 90 per cent of our manufacturing members had reopened their operations, but these are done under controlled conditions according to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) set by the Health Ministry and International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti).

“A majority of our members are in the three sectors — manufacturing, trading (traders), as well as engineering, contracting and services. Ten per cent of our members comprise small electrical and electronics stores (operators) who are ready to open their business tomorrow (today),” he told the New Straits Times.

Siew said the members would continue to adhere to the SOP on workers, whereas trading stores would implement social distancing and other precautionary measures to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He, however, said some traders had expressed concern on one of the conditions, specifically “Item 10” set by Miti, which stated that in the event an employee in the sector which was allowed to operate was infected by the virus, the employer must not only bear the worker’s medical expense, but also disinfect the location of the infection.

He said the condition was tough on smaller traders as they were unable to absorb the costs.

“I have been appealing the matter to Miti. I urge the government to amend the condition. This is one of the challenges that the traders are facing. Some of them are not confident to reopen their business due to it,” he said.

Siew acknowledged that the manufacturing group, supply chain and trading in the electrical and electronic sector had been badly hit by the virus.

Meanwhile, book shop operators, such as BookXcess, were taking a cautious approach when it came resuming their operations.

BookXcess founder Andrew Yap said the company would wait for further announcements on the MCO from state governments.

This as some states decided not to follow the government’s decision on enforcing the CMCO.

“We have stores in Johor, Penang, Selangor and Ipoh. We have been following the SOP given by the Health Ministry.

“We have to follow the guidelines from the state governments, hence why we have yet to reopen our business,” he said, adding that customers were encouraged to buy books via BookXcess’ online platform.