Hardware, electronics shops, hairdressers can operate
Published on: Saturday, April 11, 2020
By: FMT
File photo from Bernama.
Kota Kinabalu: The State Government, through Sabah Covid-19 Command Centre, has decided to allow hardware shops to open for business every Tuesday and Thursday during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period.State Secretary Datuk Safar Untong who is also Sabah Covid-19 Command Centre Chairman, said the hardware shops are allowed to open on the said days from 9am to 3pm only.
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He said only three hardware shops are allowed for Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Sandakan, Keningau, Lahad Datu, Penampang, Tuaran, Beaufort, Ranau, Papar, Sipitang, Tenom and Kudat, while for the rest of the districts only two allowed.
The local authority would decide which hardware shops are allowed to open for business in their respective district, he said, adding the local authority would enforce the compliance procedures.
The shops must comply with the social distancing (one metre apart) rule, limit the number of customers at any one time, time limit for them inside the premises, the order of one entrance way and one exit way, body temperature scanning and the compulsory use of face mask and hand sanitiser for customers and workers.
Meanwhile, hair salons and electronics shops will also now be allowed to operate subject to strict conditions. This comes after Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said selected sectors would be opened in stages and operate according to a standard operating procedure.
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In a statement, International Trade and Industry Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali outlined the sectors which are allowed to operate, though in some sectors, limited activities are allowed.
In the case of hair salons or barber shops, he said, only the cutting of hair is permitted.
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For the retail sector, shops dealing in hardware items, electric and electronic appliances and optical goods will be allowed to open.
Self-service laundromats are still closed but full service laundromats are allowed to operate.
He said professional and technical services that are allowed to operate include architecture, quantity surveying, legal, and oil and gas.
As for industries, under the automotive sector, only activities related to the export of complete built-up units are allowed. This includes the manufacturing of parts and components, and after-sales service.
The aerospace industry will also be allowed to operate, as well as a number of construction sector industries, including the cement and steel industries.
Projects being developed by G1 and G2 contractors, Azmin said, are allowed to continue, as well as projects which are 90% completed.
Also allowed are tunnelling, maintenance, slope and emergency works (as per a contract).
At building sites, maintenance, cleaning and fumigation are permitted, including works which pose a danger if they are not completed. So too is the building of facilities and accommodation for workers such as quarters or workers� camps.
Registered traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) practitioners are also allowed to operate.
Azmin said his ministry refined the list of additional sectors which are allowed to operate based on four considerations:
0 The importance of the sectors in the global value chain of the country�s exports.
0 Economic sector activities with high value-added multiplier effect;
0 The impact on the sustainability of SMEs in the economic sector, particularly in manufacturing and services; and
0 The size of the work force involved in the sector.
Companies which are allowed to operate must submit their applications to the ministry online at www.miti.gov.my from Monday. Only applications that are complete and fulfil the conditions will be processed.
�Companies in the sectors that are allowed to operate must comply with the requirements of the SOP,� Azmin said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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