NOT all of the 4,036 cases from the Teratai Covid-19 cluster are from Top Glove Corporation Berhad, the world’s largest glove manufacturer said today.

The cluster, which has become Malaysia’s largest to date, has been linked to Top Glove premises in Klang, Selangor.

Top Glove executive chairman Lim Wee Chai said as of today some 7,000 employees comprising citizens and migrants have been screened for Covid-19.

According to his rough estimates, 3,000 out of the 7,000 employees screened were positive.

“(There) are other factories (involved in the Teratai cluster) not only Top Glove…Top Glove maybe about 3,000 (are positive),” he told a media briefing.

The majority of Top Glove’s workers who tested positive were asymptomatic and 500 of them have since been discharged from the hospital.

The cluster was detected after a batch of foreign workers underwent screening on November 2 as part of a pre-departure screening. The discovery of 10 positive cases from the screening exercise, led to close contact tracing.

Commenting on Human Resources Minister M Saravanan’s remarks on the “terrible” state of the workers’ dormitory, Lim said the company has invested a lot to improve the conditions of the accommodation.

“I think he had visited us two or three months ago. During that time, he said it seemed to be good.

“We do not know why he is saying differently now. We welcome him to visit us again,” Lim said.

Top Glove managing director Lee Kim Meow added that since Saravanan’s visit a few months ago, the company has improved the facilities at the accommodation.

“So, it came as a big surprise when such comments were made. We need to clarify with the ministry to see what are the areas we did not do correctly and how we can improve,” he said.

Top Glove said it had invested tens of million over the years on accommodation, which include purchasing 100 apartment units.

In addition to disinfecting the living areas, the dorms also have amenities such as ATMs, barbers, mini markets and inhouse canteens to reduce the need of workers from having to go out.

Saravanan, who visited the premises once again a few days ago, told The Star that the workers’ housing conditions were deplorable.

He warned that no one will be spared if they are found to have flouted labour laws.

“I have visited the hostels and the conditions are terrible. My officers were ordered to go in full force as this is a big, vulnerable migrant workers colony. If we don’t act, this cluster might get out of control,” the minister added. – November 25, 2020.