Update (13th April): After much consideration, Senior Defense Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced today that barbers, hair salons, and optical shops are no longer allowed to operate throughout the MCO duration.
Original article follows:
As you may know, the movement control order (MCO) in Malaysia has been extended for another 2 weeks, till 28th April. We expected this to happen.
It’s not all doom and gloom though. The government shared that several key sectors have been given the green light to reopen for business in stages. To avoid detrimental effects on the economy during MCO, sectors such as automotive, electronic stores, and social healthcare are allowed to operate under strict guidelines.
According to the International Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI), the 9 sectors of businesses are:
1. Automotive industry (limited to exports of CBU, parts and components, as well as after-sale services, e.g., maintenance)
2. Machinery and equipment industry
3. Aerospace industry
4. Construction projects and services related to construction works:
- Projects whereby the main contractors are G1–G2
- Projects that have achieved physical progress of 90% and above
- Tunneling works
- Maintenance works
- Sloping works
- Emergency works that are consequent to contractual obligations
- Maintenance, cleaning and drying of stagnant water, spraying of pesticides at construction sites which prevent the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes and other pests
- Other works that if left incomplete may result in danger
- Building projects with 70 IBS score and above
- Construction projects with accommodation facilities for workers, such as centralised quarters for workers or workers’ camp
- Professional services related to the construction industry including architects, engineers, town-planners, land surveyors, quantity surveyors, project managers, facility managers as well as other relevant services
5. Science, professional and technical services, including R&D (services incidental to legal practice, services incidental to oil and gas, R&D activities related to COVID-19, and testing labs for the sectors allowed to operate)
6. Social health services including registered traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) practitioners
7. Hardware shops, electrical and electronic (E&E) shops and optometrists in the wholesale and retail industry
8. Barber shops (offering haircuts only)
9. Laundry services (only those offering full-service and does not include self-service laundrettes)
Senarai sektor tambahan yang dibenarkan beroperasi. @AzminAli @limbanhong @lokmanhakim_ali pic.twitter.com/zDKqHLi8aZ
— MITI Malaysia (@MITIMalaysia) April 10, 2020
Permitted sectors mentioned above may submit their application for permission to operate with MITI, starting next Monday (13th April) from 9am onwards.
Applications are only accepted online at miti.gov.my.
