Only 5-10% of Covid-19 cases from manufacturing sector, says Azmin

Only 5% to 10% of the total number of Covid-19 cases are from the manufacturing sector, International Trade and Industry Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali said today.

He said data confirmed by the health ministry showed that 75% of Covid-19 cases today were sporadic, which means the virus is in the community, while another 25% came from various clusters including workplace clusters covering the manufacturing sector.

“Therefore, it is not true to put the blame on the economic sector, especially the manufacturing sector,” he told reporters after visiting the Setia City Convention Centre vaccination centre (PPV) in Shah Alam today.

He said when the government decided to allow several economic sectors to operate, there was the probability of Covid-19 infection occurring in these sectors, unlike the education and social sectors which were completely shut down.

The decision, however, was made in the economic interest of the people, Azmin added.

“The economic sectors, especially those involving essential goods and services, we decided that some of them must be allowed to protect the economic well-being of the people.

“When there are (economic) activities, the probability (of Covid-19 infection) certainly exists but the number is not as large as announced (from the total number of cases) because the virus is already sporadic, and that is why we call for the pandemic to be overcome jointly by adhering to strict SOPs,” he said.

Azmin said Malaysia is part of a global supply chain and the government does not want any disruption to the supply of food, basic necessities and public health items such as sanitiser and other pharmaceutical products.

Meanwhile, he said the Public-Private Partnership Covid-​19 Industry Immunisation Programme (Pikas) for now involves the manufacturing sector, adding that the government will focus on the construction and tourism sectors in the near future.

He also announced that a total of 16,564 workers had received their vaccination shots in Penang, Johor and Selangor through Pikas from June 16 until yesterday.