KUALA LUMPUR, June 21– The National Security Council (MKN) has agreed to let the Home Ministry coordinate all enforcement actions including raids conducted by agencies against factories violating the Movement Control Order (MCO) standard operating procedure (SOP).
Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that lately the government had received many complaints about factories allegedly abusing the government’s approval letter by running non-essential operations during the full MCO implemented since June 1.
Some factories were found flouting the SOP by allowing more than 60 per cent of their workers to work, with some even directing those wearing the quarantine wristband to turn up for work, he said.
“As such, the government will take stern action by conducting checks and raids against factories which violate the SOP. The errant factories will be compounded and ordered to close immediately,” he said in a statement on the MCO and Enhanced MCO today.
On June 17, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin was reported as saying that beginning June 18, employers in the manufacturing sector found to have violated the SOP would be issued compound notices without any warning.
Hamzah said more than 49 factories nationwide had been compounded for breaching the SOP since June 1.
