MANUFACTURERS have been intructed to step up production of face masks, said Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution, adding that the government will buy the extra stock to add to its stockpile.

While 90% of the face masks produced domestically are for surgical and industrial purposes, the demand now is for the three-ply version due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Saifuddin said his officials recently met with manufacturers to ask for higher production of the item to ensure there is adequate supply.

This could see up to 400,000 face masks being produced daily if all manufacturers complied with the request.

“If they can increase production the government is wiling to buy,” he said at a press conference with Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, in Putrajaya, today.

“The government will buy every batch of additional stock,” he assured the manufacturers.

Most factories are not yet running at full production capacity.

There are fewer than 10 manufacturers in Malaysia and most of them cater to export markets.

The government has not imposed an export ban to ensure adequate supply, as has been effected in some countries.

Instead, the government has asked importers to increase their orders. 

Malaysia currently imports from China, Europe, US and Singapore.

Lim said the government would distribute the face marks where they were needed. – February 7, 2020.