PENANG Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo has urged the Federal Government to consider striking a balance between public health and economic health when it makes its decision on whether to reimpose the movement control order (MCO).
“There are news reports that the MCO might be reimposed (in Penang). I hope that it will be imposed on targeted areas and not the entire state.
“Our priority is still to ensure public health. However we do not want to impact our economy.
“If there are areas that need to be shut down because of certain clusters, we target that area and impose the MCO. But it should not be a blanket one.
“I leave it to the Health Ministry to make the decision since they have the necessary information.” he told a press conference today.
Jagdeep said the frontliners had came to the point of exhaustion in fighting against the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I appeal to the frontliners in Penang to continue their good work.
“We need to be firm. We might be exhausted but we will continue with our work. We will not stop working to fight Covid-19. The pandemic is not over,” Jagdeep said, urging the people to abide by the standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) Penang branch chairman Datuk Jimmy Ong said the industry was trying its best to improve last year, and hoped to be back to normal this year.
“However, it may collapse if there is another MCO that involves shutting down the industry. A total lockdown can have a devastating effect.
“We hope that the industry can still continue to operate. It is important to strike a balance between public health and economic health.
“We leave it to the Health Ministry and Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti) to look at the overall industry and decide,” he said.
Ong said it is crucial for everyone to strictly follow the SOPs.
“The Covid-19 cases have increased in the industry. We need to be vigilant and take more proactive measures, such as having more Covid-19 screenings for the workers.
“The Covid-19 screenings are slower now as compared to before March this year.
“The screenings have to continue for us to detect the infections early. If we were to wait for the vaccine, it may take a few more months,” Ong advised the industry.
He said that Covid-19 screenings for industry workers must be a continuous programme.
“We hope that the industry can follow the SOPs and have more Covid-19 screenings for their workers,” he said.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Chan Kok Kuan