MANUFACTURING companies in Penang are adhering to the guidelines set by the ministry while playing their role to support the economy and the frontliners.
One of the industry players, Emico Holdings Berhad, strived to continue manufacturing medical and rehabilitation products to support the needs of the medical industry during the Covid-19 crisis.
Group managing director Francis Lim said the company has 220 workers.
“We obtained the approval from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to operate with 30 workers on April 8, and subsequently the second approval on April 16 allowed us to operate with 110 workers.
“Our company manufactures essential parts, components, sub-components and the complete product of the medical and rehabilitation equipment for our customers.
“Among the products are shower chairs and toilet risers for patients and senior citizens,” Francis said before briefing Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow on the operating procedure carried out by the company.
Chow visited the plant in Bayan Lepas today to ensure that factories in the state abide by the operating guidelines set by the Government.
He toured the plastic injection moulding facility, assembly and packing facilty, and the operation office before being briefed on the company’s operating procedure.
Francis said the company had set up an ERT (Emergency Response Team) committee for Covid-19 which is led by him.
“Workers who are required to work during the movement control order (MCO) will have to undergo proper temperature screening at the security guard check point.
“Hand sanitisers are easily available for our staff. We also conduct standard operating procedure (SOP) briefings and ensure that our employees wear the face masks and practise social distancing.
“We put up posters to promote awareness on the prevention of Covid-19,” he said.
Francis added that those who were not required to work at the plant, were told to work from home.
“Disinfection works are conducted regularly at the factory and the hostels. The company also provided lunch packs for the employees during the MCO,” he said.
The company is currently focussing on the contract manufacturing of medical and rehabilitation products.
Its other core businesses are manufacturing and trading of trophies, awards, souvenirs and gifts; trading of furniture and home furnishing products; and property development. The company exports to over 45 countries in North America, South America, Africa, Europe and Asia.
Emico executive director Datuk Jimmy Ong said the company anticipated a slower sales for the next few months.
“Many events have been cancelled or postponed due to the pandemic. Many countries are facing the lockdown situation,” he said.
Ong hoped that the Government could also assist mid-tier companies.
“We are neither a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) nor a multi-national corporation. We are ‘stuck in between’.
“We hope that the Government can offer incentives to support mid-tier companies,” he said.
Chow said he was happy to see that the company followed the guidelines while ensuring that the workers practise social distancing and personal hygiene.
“It is great to note that you are also taking care of the foreign workers and disinfecting the hostels,” he said.
Also present were Emico chief commercial officer Lucinda Lim and Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) Penang branch chairman Datuk Dr Ooi Eng Hock.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi
Video by Alvie Cheng