MORE businesses are expected to resume operations in the next few weeks, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mustapa Mohamed said.

“We expect many more companies to be back in business in the next few wee with the safety measures in place,” he said today on a webinar on how to grow a business amid disruptions hosted by Le NouveauPro. 

The minister in charge of the economy said the government has taken steps to help small-medium enterprises (SMEs) resume full operations. 

“We have learnt a few things, such as the need for regular communication and engagement. We have also been regularly getting feedback from people in the industry.” 

Mustapa said the government remained focused on SMEs even though he had received unhappy feedback from other segments, including mid-tier companies who felt they had been overlooked.

“By and large, the small companies are very happy although the big companies, both local and foreign, have expressed some unhappiness. But I would say we have done our best,” he said. 

The Covid-19 crisis had also exposed structural weaknesses that needed to be addressed, he added, while the government must be agile as well as patient in fixing these issues. 

“Foreign labour, for example – we need to figure out how to implement reforms in terms of policies for their accommodation.

Mustapa expressed concern for the future of the tourism sector and the gig economy.

Tourism is reported to be the hardest hit as resistance to travel is expected to persist beyond the coronavirus outbreak.

Mustapa said the public and private sectors had to work closely together because the world had changed with the Covid-19 threat.

Malaysia eased virus containment measures on May 4 with the issuance of the conditional movement control order (CMCO), which followed nearly two months of shutdown.

The CMCO allows the bulk of economic sectors to resume operations with strict health and safety guidelines in place, and people to leave the confines of their homes.

Mass gatherings and interstate travel, however, are still banned, and learning institutions remain closed.

The CMCO is due to expire on June 9. – May 28, 2020.