THE government’s decision to impose a full lockdown is a bitter pill for employers to swallow but it is necessary to flatten the rising trend of Covid-19 infections, said Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) president Syed Hussain Syed Husman.

He said the lockdown would be very difficult for most employers, especially micro enterprises not normally within the essential economic and service sectors category.

“With losses expected at about RM2.4 billion per day similar to that of the original movement control order (MCO), the government must introduce more stimulus packages including wage subsidies and financial assistance to businesses and people to sustain themselves during this challenging period.

“Automatic loan moratorium must also be reintroduced so that such businesses and people can survive,” he said in a statement today.

He noted the government’s decision of striking a delicate balance between saving lives and livelihoods.

Syed Hussain said based on lessons learnt during the past MCOs, the MEF hoped there will be no confusion over which economic sectors would be allowed to continue to operate and the number of employees that could be present at the workplace during full lockdown.

According to Syed Hussain, what is needed is quick execution in the collective role of utilising all resources in government and in the private sector to achieve herd immunity.

“We cannot fight Covid-19 if we are on opposite sides and not working as a team. With mass vaccination and self-regulation, we will overcome this.

“We need to take action now because execution is the name of the game. We have no other choice. ‘Kita jaga kita’,” added Syed Hussain. – Bernama, May 29, 2021.