THE automotive, aerospace and construction sectors, along with traditional medicine practitioners, barbers and laundries, are among those who have been given permission to operate while the movement control order is in force.

They will first have to obtain written approval from the International Trade and Industry Ministry.

Others allowed to open are the machinery and equipment industry; science, professional and technical services, including R&D; social health services, including registered traditional and complementary medicine  practitioners; hardware, electrical and electronic shops; optometrists; barber shops; and full laundry services.

The loosening of restrictions comes as the government today extended the MCO to April 28. All non-essential sectors had until now been prohibited from doing business while the shutdown is in effect.

Senior minister Mohamed Azmin Ali said the cabinet has allowed more sectors to operate in phases on condition of strict compliance with health and safety guidelines.

He said the selection of sectors allowed to open was based on its importance in the global value chain and the country’s exports to ensure stability of trade; its high value added multiplier effect; the sustainability of SMEs in the economic sector, particularly in manufacturing and services; and the size of the workforce.

Below is a full list of the sectors that may resume operations. 

• Automotive (limited to exports of CBU, parts and components, as well as after-sales services, e.g. maintenance)

• Machinery and equipment

 • Aerospace

• Construction projects and services related to construction works:
- Projects whereby the main contractors are G1–G2
- Projects that have achieved physical progress of 90% and above
- Tunnelling works
- Maintenance works
- Sloping works
- Emergency works that are consequent to contractual obligations
- Maintenance, cleaning and drying of stagnant water, spraying of pesticides at construction sites which prevent the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes and other pests
- Other works that if left incompleted may result in danger
- Building projects with 70 IBS score and above
- Construction projects with accommodation facilities for workers, such as centralised quarters for workers or workers’ camp
- Professional services related to the construction industry including architects, engineers, town-planners, land surveyors, quantity surveyors, project managers, facility managers and relevant services

• Science, professional and technical services, including R&D (services incidental to legal practice, services incidental to oil and gas, R&D activities related to Covid-19, and testing labs for the sectors allowed to operate)

 • Social health services including registered traditional and complementary medicine practitioners

• Hardware shops, electrical and electronic shops and optometrists in the wholesale and retail industry

• Barber shops (haircuts only)

• Full-service laundries

Companies in the aforesaid sectors can submit their applications to the International Trade and Industry Ministry, starting 9am, Monday.

“All applications must be made online at MITI, www.miti.gov.my. Only applications that are complete and fulfil the conditions will be processed,” said Azmin.

He said companies which are allowed to operate must adhere to the requirements of the standard operating procedure, failing which they will face legal action and have their operation permit immediately revoked.

Azmin said the level of compliance by companies in critical economic sectors, which were allowed to operate during the first phase of the MCO, was good.

He said Putrajaya will continue to monitor the compliance of such companies to the  conditions stipulated by the Health Ministry, and ensure that health screening and preventive measures are implemented for the safety of employees and customers.

“The government has always exercised utmost care and responsibility in dealing with the outbreak of Covid-19 in order to ensure the health and safety of the people.

“The government has also taken pro-active and responsive steps in balancing the country’s economic sustainability and the effectiveness of the MCO by allowing critical economic sectors including the medical and basic needs sectors to operate since March 18, subject to conditions set by the health ministry,” he said.

This, he said, was crucial to ensure the sustainability of the country’s economy post Covid-19, to prevent the loss of jobs among Malaysians and to ensure that the rakyat continued to have access to the basic needs and critical products throughout the partial lockdown.

He said MITI has engaged various stakeholders namely Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and other relevant ministries and agencies, including the health ministry and the National Security Council (NSC), to identify and review additional economic sectors that can be allowed to operate.

This measure is in line with the Cabinet’s decision to establish a Special Cabinet Committee to Mitigate the Impact of COVID-19 on the Economy and Labour Market. 

The Special Cabinet Committee tabled several proposals to the Cabinet on April 6 and 8 following the presentations by MITI, the Ministry of Finance, Khazanah Nasional Berhad and Bank Negara, he said. – April 10, 2020.