PUTRAJAYA did not think through its decision to allow more sectors to operate in the third phase of the movement control order, Pakatan Harapan said today, particularly with regard to who should be permitted to open and the standard operating procedures for their compliance.

The PH secretariat council said some permitted industries, such as barber shops and traditional and complementary medicine practitioners, were not essential services and their selection raised the question of how the government came to decide which businesses could resume during a national shutdown.

Like other groups that have slammed the move to allow barber shops to open, the council said it was unfeasible for barbers to practise social distancing with customers at a time the country was battling the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Questions have been raised on whether barbers should be allowed to continue given that social distancing cannot be done safely.

“If the standard operating procedures are not clear, how can the government decide whether a shop or company in the additional sectors should be allowed to operate?” the secretariat council said in a statement tonight.

The loosening of restrictions for additional services to resume was announced yesterday by the  International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti), hours after the government ordered an extension of the MCO until April 28. It was due to expire this Tuesday.

Besides barber shops, other commercial and industrial activities allowed are aerospace, machinery and equipment; science, professional and technical services, including R&D; social health services, including registered traditional and complementary medicine practitioners; hardware, electrical and electronic shops; optometrists; and full laundry services.

The PH secretariat council also noted that some of the services allowed to operate did not fall under Miti’s jurisdiction. Yet, these businesses are to obtain operating approval from Miti.

The council said Miti had shown an inability to handle the thousands of applications from manufacturing companies for permission to operation during the earlier phases of the MCO.

“Miti was inundated with applications till its website crashed. It took a week to process thousands of applications.

“In view of the fact that there are thousands of hardware shops, electronics shops, barbers and laundry services around the country, Miti will again have trouble processing the applications.” 

The council said it would be better for the federal government to provide clear and comprehensive SOPs and allow the local authorities to process and approve the applications instead.

“Clearly, this move hasn’t been well thought out. The decision to allow certain sectors and services to operate does not seem to be consistent. (Whether it has the ability) to process applications in a short time is questionable. 

“This will cause confusion and disappointment among business people who are already suffering because of the virus and the extended MCO.”,” said the statement signed by Amanah’s Dr Hatta Ramli, PKR’s Fahmi Fadzil and DAP’s Dr Ong Kian Ming. – April 11, 2020.