PETALING JAYA: Several business associations and ministries have lauded the government’s move in allowing 11 more economic activities to resume under Phase 1 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP).

       Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi thanked Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for expediting the reopening of the economic sectors.

       “The ministry has felt the impact on industry players of the retail and distribution sector when businesses and premises had to close for three months since May 2021.

       “The ministry fully supports the government’s decision to expedite the reopening of more economic sectors, based on the adult vaccination rate of 72.1% for the first dose and 44.5% for the second dose and because the average number of daily patients at the emergency wards has drastically reduced from 909 people to 239 people on Aug 13.

       “Even so, the ministry is ensuring that all the government’s instructions will be adhered to, for example, allowing only fully vaccinated individuals to enter the premises through the MySejahtera digital certificate,” he said yesterday.

       “The ministry has received positive feedback from industry players, where associations will issue their respective statements welcoming this new allowance.

       “The reopening of new sectors must be taken as a responsibility and not as a freedom to be abused.

       “The ministry will instruct all enforcement officials to carry out monitoring and inspection activities everyday,” he added.

       Federation of Malaysia Business Associations chairman Datuk Abdul Malik Abdullah said focusing on expediting the vaccination rates in the country will become key in restarting the economic activities.

       “The government has used the strategy in combining a fast vaccination rate and allowing businesses to open with tight standard operating procedure, which is the right move to take.

       “Businesses which will see immediate benefit will be the ones based in the Klang Valley, which is the centre of economic activity in the country and where vaccination rates have reached at least 50%,” he said in a press statement yesterday.

       As employers, they were committed to following the SOP and support any efforts to encourage their employees to get vaccinated.

       “We also ask the cooperation and understanding of customers entering business premises to show their digital Covid-19 vaccination certificate as proof that they have been fully vaccinated,” he said.

       Bumiputra Retailers Organisation (BRO) president Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin also welcomed the decision by the government to allow activities to resume for the trade and distribution sector.

       “The announcement has brought a sigh of relief, especially for bumiputra businessmen who were affected and have to suffer heavy losses from the closure of economic sectors due to the movement control order,” he said.