Govt lists 37 businesses under essential sectors during MCO

Putrajaya has categorised 37 types of businesses in the five essential sectors allowed to operate during the movement control order (MCO) in six states starting tomorrow.

The list released by the international trade and industries ministry (Miti) includes companies involved in the construction, services, trade and distribution sectors under the ministry’s oversight, as well as plantations and commodities under the jurisdiction of other ministries and agencies.

Miti said companies that have registered under its Covid-19 Intelligent Management System (CIMS) do not need to register again, but only download the notification of registration confirmation from https://notification.miti.gov.my beginning 3pm today.

It said a copy of the notification must be distributed to employees who are allowed to work, and must be carried with them alongside their employee pass or employer confirmation letter, to facilitate enforcement agencies during the MCO period.

“Miti has informed the Royal Malaysia Police regarding this matter to facilitate movements during roadblock operations,” said its minister Mohamed Azmin Ali.

Yesterday, the government reinstated the MCO in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Melaka, Johor and Sabah, as part of drastic measures to control a fierce spike of Covid-19 which has so far killed more than 500 people nationwide.

The five essential sectors allowed to operate under SOPs are industrial and manufacturing, construction, services, trade and distribution, as well as plantations and commodities.

Azmin said his ministry had taken into consideration views from industry associations to ensure the effective implementation of a business continuity plan during the MCO.

“As a result of continuous engagements and constructive consultations with industry associations, chambers of commerce and other stakeholders, Miti has formulated a set of comprehensive, relevant and practical SOPs,” he said.

He said at the heart of the plan was to ensure the stability of the country’s export activities in line with Malaysia’s key position in the global supply chain.

Azmin also said that only 30% of employees in the management group would be allowed to be present at the workplace, while the number of other staff involved in production would be determined by the companies.

He said his ministry will conduct periodic checks throughout the MCO period to ensure companies comply with SOPs, and warned of action against offenders under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act.

“As the country’s economic frontliners, Miti will continue to foster a conducive and business-friendly environment that enables economic activities to operate and grow,” he added.

Miti has also published a list of frequently asked questions at https://www.miti.gov.my/redir/pkp/faq.html.

The 37 essential businesses recognised by Miti as of Jan 10 are as follows:

A. Industrial and manufacturing:

1. Aerospace including maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO)
2. Automotive production and after-sales services
3. Food and beverage and their chains
4. Packaging and printing
5. Household and personal care products (fast-moving consumer goods such as soap, personal hygiene, etc), washing detergent and its chains
6. Healthcare and medical products including diet supplements
7. Personal protective equipment (PPE) and fire safety equipment
8. Medical equipment components
9. Electrical and electronics
10. Oil and gas
11. Petrochemicals and related products
12. Chemical products
13. Machinery and equipment
14. Ceramic (as moulds in hand gloves manufacturing)
15. Iron and steel
16. Textiles (for the manufacturing of PPE)
17. Furniture
18. Production, distillation, storage, supply and distribution of fuel and lubricants

B. Construction

19. Building:
i. Critical maintenance and repair works
ii. Major public infrastructure construction works
iii. Construction works to provide complete accommodation for workers on construction sites or those housed in the central workers quarters (CLQ)

C. Services

20. Financial services and their chains:
i. Financial institutions (Banking, insurance, takaful and other entities licensed, approved and registered with Bank Negara Malaysia)
ii. Capital market entities licensed, registered or regulated by the Securities Commission Malaysia
21. Municipal and local government services:
i. Mortgage / community credit (licensed moneylender companies)
ii. Solid waste / sewerage management
iii. Public cleaning
iv. Premises cleaning and sanitation
22. Telecommunication and digital infrastructure including ICT services and global business services (GBS)
23. E-commerce and its chains include e-marketplace services, digital payments and local e-commerce internet centres
24. Hotels and accommodations
25. Agriculture, fisheries and livestock sectors include veterinary services:
i. Management of farms / swiftlet nests / horses / animal processing plants / slaughterhouses / livestock / livestock feed mills / vaccine suppliers / livestock management / pet shops (livestock transfer operations are at night)
ii. Disease control and regulation of livestock production, livestock inputs and products related to the livestock industry (including exports and imports)
iii. Health management, disease diagnosis and animal treatment
26. Utilities (water and energy)
27. Professional services (including accountants / lawyers / auditors / engineers / architects), scientific (including R&D) and technical (including maintenance)
28. Security services
29. Security and defence
30. Land, water and air transportation
31. Port and port services and operations, including cargo loading and unloading, shipping, storage or commodity shipping

D. Distribution

32. Warehousing and logistics
33. Food / beverage service / sale / delivery
34. Retail / distribution / wholesale

E. Plantation and commodities

35. Agriculture, fisheries and livestock and their chains
36. Plantations and commodities and their chains

F. Miscellaneous

37. Any service, work, industry and business as determined by the health minister after consultation with the authorities regulating the service, work, industry and business