Malaysian businesses urged to comply with COVID-19 SOPs

The Small and Medium Enterprises Association of Malaysia (Samenta) has advised retail and food and beverages (F&B) businesses to adhere to the country’s COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs). 

This comes as Malaysia has allowed physical stores to reopen and patrons of F&B outlets to dine-in. Clothing and electronic stores were allowed to reopen from August 16, while dining-in at restaurants was permitted from August 20.   

Samenta Central chairman Datuk William Ng said, “In the previous RMCO (recovery movement control order), some businesses have been fined the maximum RM50,000 (US$11,793) for non-compliance of SOP by their customers. Given the punitive nature of the fine, it is sending mixed signals to the business community.” 

Ng, who is also Samenta’s policy and government relations chairman, added that the current multi-phase approach of reopening economic sectors has caused some confusion to businesses, and burdened the “already overworked” enforcement agencies. 

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He called on the authorities to consider instead the reopening of all economic sectors when 80% of each state’s population has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 

He added, “We urge all SMEs to exercise caution as they reopen their businesses, to follow all SOPs strictly and if in doubt, to take their own preventive actions,” according to Malay Mail.