SHAH ALAM, July 26 — The Selangor chapter of the Malaysian Islamic Chamber of Commerce (MICC Selangor) has proposed that the government reviews the definition of what is considered essential in efforts to save micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), especially in Selangor.
MICC Selangor chairman Mohd Yahya Mat Sahri said the matter must be studied with care as what is considered non-essential for some is essential for others.
“For example, hypermarkets are allowed to sell refrigerators, television sets and clothes, but shops selling electronic products and clothes are not allowed to operate. What is non-essential to some is essential to others, and vice versa. What is important is implementing the appropriate standard operating procedures (SOPs) such as the maximum number of people in a shop or premises,” he said in a statement.
Mohd Yahya said among the steps that can save the sector is the provision of grants through the respective chambers of commerce to revive the sector whereby a micro business is allocated RM5,000, RM10,000 for a small enterprise and RM20,000 for a medium enterprise.
The government should also consider revoking the 10 km travel rule and allow travel within the border of a mukim so that customers can travel more than 10 km to a business premise, he added.
“The government should also change the approach towards conducting roadblocks from following state borders to mukim borders so that a mukim which has low coronavirus cases can be given more relaxed SOPs compared with other mukim within a district or state which has a higher number of cases,” he said.
Apart from that, virtual briefing sessions should be conducted for MSMEs and their workers so that they are familiar with the new normal under the National Recovery Plan and conduct their business in a safer environment.
Mohd Yahya also called on all MSMEs to get their workers vaccinated as soon as possible.
— Bernama
