Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing
KUCHING (June 7): Only construction and repair works for critical services and public infrastructure, as well as repair of private homes, are allowed to operate during this Movement Control Order (MCO) which will be enforced until June 14, said Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing.
In a statement, the state Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development said the activities allowed included critical maintenance and repair works, for which if not continued, could cause danger to workers, the public and the environment.
This included maintenance and repair of slopes, roads, bridges, traffic management controls and traffic lights.
“Also allowed are periodic inspection and repair of lifts, travellators, escalators and other critical mechanical and electrical equipment.”
Masing said the repair, maintenance and upgrading of facilities at critical service premises are also allowed, as well as maintenance works, cleaning and drying-up of stagnant water and spraying of pesticides at construction sites to prevent breeding of Aedes mosquitoes and other pests.
“Repair and maintenance of railway tracks such as MRT, LRT, commuters, single or double tracks and rail projects are also allowed.”
Both repair of private homes and construction of a Bailey Bridge at the site of a collapsed bridge are permitted during this MCO period, said Masing.
He said construction works are also allowed for major and critical public infrastructure including tunnels, slopes, bridges and viaducts, construction of highways achieving physical progress of eighty per cent and above, and major public infrastructure including MRT, LRT, ECRL, commuters, single or double tracks and rail projects.
Also permitted are those construction works for infrastructure related to electricity, telecommunications, dams, drainage and sewerage and oil and gas, and hospital works achieving physical progress of eighty per cent and above.
“Construction of building projects with existing workers’ quarters at the construction sites is also allowed,” he said.
Masing said professional services and consultants involved in construction works are permitted to operate as listed above are allowed to operate.
“Also permitted are services along the supply chains involved in construction works permitted to operate as listed above.”
All contractors, consultants and suppliers involved in the project categories listed above have to obtain fresh approval through Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) website at https://www.miti.gov.my to operate during the MCO period.
“All previous approvals are not applicable during this period, thus, are null and void,” he said.
Masing also said permission letter generated through the system must be displayed at the premises or construction sites and can be used as approval for movement by all parties involved with the approved projects.
“Operating hours for employee attendance are from 6am to 8pm, and workers’ capacity is limited to 60 per cent and only applicable for those working on site.”
He said all foreign and local workers at construction sites must be tested for Covid-19 swab before being allowed to commence work.
Contractors are reminded to appoint Safety and Health Officers who are given the responsibility of monitoring compliance to standard operating procedures (SOP) at construction sites together with other safety and health guidelines.
“The project site supervisors are responsible in ensuring full compliance to the SOPs during construction works carried out throughout the MCO period,” said Masing.
To ensure that Covid-19 pandemic does not spread from construction sites to the local communities, he said movement between construction sites and centralised labour quarters (CLQ) must be controlled.
“The contractors must provide transport for workers between their CLQ and the construction sites if they are located off-site.”
“Contractors must also ensure daily necessities such as food and personal hygiene for site workers are provided to minimise workers’ movement and to protect the local residents from potential Covid-19 outbreak.”
Workers are not allowed to wander from one construction site to another during the MCO period to prevent the spread of virus between one construction site to another.
“The Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development urges all construction industry players to comply with the current construction SOPs to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Masing.
The monitoring and enforcement of SOP will be further enhanced by Construction Industry Development Board of Malaysia (CIDB) at construction sites as well as the placement of construction workers.
Masing also stated CIDB has the authority to close construction sites and impose compounds on those sites that are found not complying with the prescribed SOPs or have committed any offence under Act 520 (Malaysian Construction Industry Development Board Act), Act 446 (Minimum Housing Standards Act and Employee Facilities 1990) and Act 342 (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988).
“CIDB also has the authority to impose disciplinary action on contractors found guilty of the offence as listed and this could result in the suspension or revocation of their registrations.”
Masingalso called on all industry players to comply with the Ministry of Works Malaysia (MOW) and the CIDB recent media statement dated May 30 for works listed as critical services that are allowed to operate.
Details of the conditions and types of work allowed are stated in the Construction Sector Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), which can be downloaded from www.cidb.gov.my
Inquiries on the operation of the construction sector during the MCO period can be submitted to CIDB Careline at 03-5567 3300. Operating hours are from Monday to Friday, 8.00 am to 5.30 pm.