Licensed credit companies can open during lockdown

The community credit sector and money lenders registered under the housing and local government ministry have been given the green light to operate as an essential service during Phase One of the movement control order (MCO), effective immediately.

The ministry said the decision was made at a meeting of the National Security Council on June 18.

Community credit companies and money lenders who wish to operate must apply for permission through the international trade and industry ministry’s CIMS 3.0 portal.

Approval given will be subject to the following SOPs:

– Operating hours from 9am to 5pm;

– A maximum of two customers on the premises at any given time;

– 60% worker capacity including for operations and management;

– The provision of QR codes or log books for customer registration;

– Temperature checks and the use of hand sanitiser before entering the premise.

The ministry said in a statement that the community credit sector was the 13th to be listed as an essential service under the local government cluster in the CIMS 3.0 system for Phase One of the MCO.

Further inquiries can be channelled to the following numbers:

Licensing inquiries: 03-8891 4695/4661/4659/4652/4721

Complaints: 03-8891 4690/4668/4658/4708