From yes, to no, and now yes again. The ministry of international trade and industry (MITI) has reinstated automotive manufacturing to the approved list of services in economic sectors allowed to operate during the second movement control order (MCO), which means assembly plants will be allowed to run again.
Vehicle production and component manufacturing were included in the initial directive issued on January 12, but an update to the document less than 24 hours later saw them being omitted, with a specific footnote mention that automotive assembly and manufacturing activities were no longer included in the permitted list.
Now, in another u-turn, MITI has given the green light for all automotive assembly plants – covering vehicle and component manufacturing – to continue operations, with the activity restored to the essential services list as of today, January 16.
Previously, the ban on activity was applicable only to states in which the MCO is in effect, specifically Selangor, Johor, Penang, Melaka, Sabah and the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan, which meant that Proton’s Shah Alam plant and Honda’s Pegoh plant in Melaka were impacted by the move.
While assembly plants in other states – under a recovery or conditional MCO – such as the Hicom plant in Pekan, Pahang and the Inokom plant in Kulim, Kedah could remain in operation, interruptions to their operations were likely to happen at some point due to supply issues.
This is because their ability to function would be subject to them being able to secure parts, something that would be difficult if component vendors within the MCO areas were closed. Now, it’s business as usual, and the resumption of auto manufacturing will be welcome news to companies looking to clear their order backlog.
The move follows on the call made on Thursday by the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii), which said it supported the move for the automotive sector in the country to resume operations quickly. According to MARii CEO Datuk Madani Sahari, this resumption was crucial given the industry’s major contribution to the national economy.
He said that the sector, which contributed RM13.1 billion through exports in 2019 and employed more than 700,000 people, had continued to perform well last year despite the Covid-19 pandemic, which had resulted in many production interruptions and a scaling back in manufacturing.
Despite all these challenges, exports of parts and components to regional markets had exceeded the RM10 billion mark by the end of October, and Madani said that it was important that the momentum continue, as any lengthy delay would have a significant negative impact on the industry.
What do you think of the move to reinstate automotive manufacturing to the list of services allowed to continue during the MCO? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section.
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Tengkiu MARii CEO Datuk Madani Sahari lobbying car factories to reopening … Syabas Datuk, You’re the Man!
So Marii did their job after all. Well done!
Why do u need this maidani dude to lobby for car manufacturing to reopen? Why pay him such high salary to lobby?
Those MKN socalled experts cant forsee the virus rampaging thro clusters? You need optometrists to prescribe special lenses for them to see the ‘kelompok” virus?
The virus ,by now u should know…loves kelompok/clusters of people who fail to physically distance.
Tun said Tan Sri Hisham needs more medical experts for joint efforts to control the virus,not lobbyists .
It’s sad,the virus is allowed to rampage innocent lives,thro mere incompetence .
Flip flop. How about the incoming two days time then. Back to cannot operate?
Flip flop govt. Order satu Roti canai bawang, tengkiu Azmin
PN is worse than PH
Huge fail to control COVID. Musibah to ekonomi Msia lingkup,
Hahaha!!! In times of trouble, only hate-trolls are on the roll.
Copy paste: “Open you people complain infection go up.
Closed you people complain no job.
Lucky you people are no longer in gomen anymore.”
Sendiri syiok sendiri by upping your own likes. Deswai PH failed.
Open you people complain infection go up.
Closed you people complain no job.
Lucky you people are no longer in gomen anymore.
Now I hope Honda Malaysia actually announce something for the City RS. There have been no updates on this ever since they said they will launch on early January last year. Meanwhile our neighbors already gotten both the normal City RS and now the EHEV City RS when we launched it as the “world premier” EHEV RS. All my SA tells me is they are having a meeting about it and I know it’s not her fault cause it’s the higher ups that makes the decisions.
Anyway, syukur now continuing full steam of toyota production. Toyota all the way
What is the difference between a construction site and a car factory?
They may have the same amount of workers…hundreds.The only difference is most construction sites have more foreigners.
Proton has reported a small cluster before.Do you want a huge Perodua or Toyota UMW cluster?
Very soon,all industries or sectors will be operational..it defeats the purpose of the MCO.We will be back to higher covid figures..perhaps 10,000 daily cases.
Do u need rocket science or a PHD in microbiology to understand the rampaging virus?
Just shambolic and pathetic,disgusting and outrageous.
Problem is kampung politicians have very little understabding about how our economy works. They have in place too many restrictions that is causing businesses to go elsewhere.
Syukurla musim Covid & darurat nih, dapat bantuan free ayam… orang ramai syukur xputus makanan, tengkiu amat2 mereka yang perihatin sudi menderma .. kipidapp
MITI proves its inefficiency once again .. Waste of tax payers money to pay them wage monthly..shame on them for not attracting investor abroad into our country
Flip flop again! No wonder investors are going to Indonesia instead of Malaysia!
semalam satu cerita …ini hari lain cerita, aduihh Hantu kom-kom pon larik.
In the meanwhile today 4000 new infection.
Please use your stupid brain to think carefully if you still have brain. Every times just changed a few days after announced. Do you feel shame? How are you going to lead Malaysia?
MARii will change their name to PERGi tomorrow.
School also cannot on last minit. On tak on..
There is a joke in the street that says Miti is “Yes, No, Maybe”
hahaha….enjoy the joke while we all stuck in MCO (again)
Now wonder other SEA countries economy are moving up…whereas…here we seems to think we re better off than them.
Please treat MCO seriously else is unfair to people stay home. If not essential please don’t operate.
Just shows how incompetent this government is … * face palm *
Pusing sini pusing sana!! Malaysia boleh.
It’s possible to revive the economy after being badly hit by the pandemic, but it’s not possible to revive those who died because of this virus…
should be more strictly not flip flop SOP,
myb can control like only car automotive is allow to functional..try to control which is important to open which is not
should allow important automotive factory only operated…examples only allow ( Car ) automotive to operate..gov to fix only important essential service’ current convid numbers dailys is getting higher.. plz consider to reduce more ppl to stay out of house..