COMPANIES that fail to comply with stipulated standard operating procedure (SOP) throughout the conditional movement-control order (CMCO) will face immediate revocation of their operating permits as well as legal action, said Minister of International Trade and Industry Mohamed Azmin Ali.

He said his ministry had issued a letter regarding the SOP compliance order to 171 associations and chambers of business on November 26.

“The letter is to prove that the Ministry of International Trade and Industry takes a serious view of SOP compliance following the recent increase in new Covid-19 cases,” he said.

Azmin said this after having lunch with Pertubuhan Pewaris Anak-anak Melayu Gombak and Penggerak Komuniti Tempatan Gombak today.

In detailing the content of the letter, he said that if companies are found to have flouted the SOP and do not cooperate with the Health Ministry, the government would take action to shut down the premises and factories under Section 18 (1)(d) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342).

“The question now is the SOP compliance as well as the employers’ responsibility to bear the cost of the Covid-19 screening in a bid to break the chain of infection,” he said, adding that industry players had a role to play towards curbing the spread of the virus.

“Don’t put the burden solely on the government. Industries rake in huge profits, so they too must contribute towards efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19 among the workforce, especially foreign workers,” he said. – Bernama, November 29, 2020.