KUCHING: The Sarawak Community Policing Association (SCPA) has advised businesses to implement effective talent retention strategies to provide job security and support for employees as well as to utilise government subsidies to ease their burden during these challenging times.
Taking note of the reimplementation movement control order (MCO) or conditional movement control order (CMCO), SCPA chairman Datuk Seri Victor Hii Lu Thian advised businesses to have a professional crisis management plan.
“This would help to ensure the well-being of their people, protect their resources, and strengthen their ability to operate optimally during these unprecedented times,” he said when contacted yesterday.
He said the reimplementation of MCO/CMCO would certainly harm businesses and the people but it was better compared to a full lockdown, as more essential economic sectors were still allowed to operate as long as their adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOPs).
“Companies must do their best to be adaptable to rapid change by identifying alternative working arrangements, reimagining business-as-usual, and more importantly, complying with local labour laws that place the health and safety of employees, customers, and other stakeholders as the centre of their business operations,” he urged.
He expressed support for the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee’s (SDMC) efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the state, including its decision to enforce the CMCO in red zones here.
Apart from adhering to the SOPs, Victor urged the public to be mindful of their safety and to look out for each other to prevent crime in their neighbourhoods caused by the strain of the pandemic.
SCPA secretary David Xavier Hii Chin Loung suggested that the government should look into implementing subsidies, tax rebates, and incentives to assist affected businesses during the MCO or CMCO period.
Noting that it had been a challenging time for all businesses since the start of the first MCO on March 18 until now, he said there were negative impacts on revenue and even closure and liquidation for some due to inability to operate.
“The general lack or decline of economic activity for several months may lead to a recession which is why we just cannot afford a full lockdown,” he told New Sarawak Tribune.
He said that as a result of the new norm and social distancing, the focus should be on the digital economy.
“With proper implementation and participation of e-commerce, it will fuel more job opportunities and economic growth. At the same time, we will be able to practise social distancing with the use of current communication technology,” he said.
At the same time, David also commended SDMC for doing a great job in containing the outbreak of Covid-19 in Sarawak.
Although he noted that some policies needed to be improvised such as the home quarantine policy for Sarawakian returnees, which could have led to the recent increase in Covid-19 cases, he stressed that combating Covid-19 was a joint effort by everyone concerned.
“We cannot simply hold SDMC accountable for every outbreak. We need to stand united in light of this pandemic without any any finger-pointing, victim-blaming, and stigmatism to those who were infected and to those who had infected others,” he said.
On Monday, SDMC chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas announced the implementation of a 14-day CMCO starting today in Kuching, Sibu, and Miri zones in light of the spike in Covid-19 cases across the state.
Meanwhile, Hope Place founder Kelvin Wan said the implementation of CMCO in Kuching, Sibu, and Miri was a good move.
However, he emphasised that more details would need clarification — SOPs, opening hours for shops, reopening of schools for this year’s session, and so on.
“I pray that everyone will follow the SOPs to keep safe, please stay safe and stay at home,” he said.
