A worker inspects rubber gloves at a section of the assembly line at a Top Glove manufacturing plant in Meru, Klang. Malaysia’s Top Glove Corporation Bhd has become the top producer of rubber products in the world. — Bernama photo
KUALA LUMPUR (July 6): Glove manufacturer Top Glove today confirmed that it will temporarily suspend operations at its factories in Klang, which is currently under the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) until June 16.
“Top Glove wishes to inform that its medical glove factories in Klang will not be operating temporarily, in compliance with the EMCO directive, while waiting for clarification from Majlis Keselamatan Negara (MKN),” the company said in an email response to Malay Mail’s queries.
MKN refers to the National Security Council (NSC).
“The company looks forward to safely resuming operations at the appropriate time and continuing to produce its much needed medical gloves for frontliners and healthcare workers in Malaysia and globally,” the company said.
“The company continues to maintain strict adherence to the relevant rules and regulations, as well as COVID preventive SOPs, and is committed to safeguarding the health and safety of its workforce and the communities in which it operates,” it added.
Malay Mail had contacted Top Glove earlier today for clarification following a news report of the revocation of its approval letter under the Covid-19 Intelligent Management System (CIMS) 3.0.
Companies in Malaysia currently require the CIMS 3.0 letter to operate throughout the different phases of the National Recovery Plan and in EMCO areas.
Malay Mail asked Top Glove to verify the news report of the letter being revoked for its operations in an EMCO area in Selangor, and had also asked if the company would continue to operate or temporarily suspend operations in EMCO areas.
The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti) which hosts the CIMS 3.0 platform — shared by 17 ministries and three government agencies — had in a statement earlier today clarified that companies that are not essential services cannot operate at all in EMCO areas.
Miti had stressed that only essential companies in EMCO areas can use the CIMS 3.0 letter to continue operations.
On July 1, Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced the list of affected mukim in Selangor and affected localities in Kuala Lumpur that would be placed under EMCO from July 3 to July 16.
The list of affected mukim in Selangor districts included the mukim of Klang in the Klang district.
Along with the list, Ismail Sabri had also announced the rules for these Selangor and Kuala Lumpur areas under the EMCO, including the permitted operations only for factories manufacturing food and essential needs such as rice, bread loaves, sugar, cooking oil, wheat flour, fresh milk, baby milk formula, medicine and face masks.
Under the NSC’s SOP applicable to Selangor areas under EMCO — including Klang—from July 3 to July 16, the list of essential services for the manufacturing and factory sector does not include rubber gloves.
Those listed as essential under the manufacturing sector are the dry food category covering sugar, cooking oil, wheat flour, rice, bread loaves, baby milk formula, and drinks namely mineral water, the hygiene, health and self-care category namely baby diapers, adult diapers, medicine, hand sanitiser and face masks.
This list carried a note which said only the supply chain involving packaging, labelling and transportation, which indicates such services related to the manufacturing of the listed essential goods would be allowed.
On July 4, the Malaysian Rubber Gloves Manufacturers Association (Margma) urged the government to allow glove factories in Selangor to continue operating during the EMCO, and said it would seek an urgent meeting with Miti to resolve the issue.
Margma had said 58 per cent of gloves produced in Malaysia come from factories located in Selangor, and argued that medical examination gloves are essential personal protective equipment (PPE) items required globally to fight diseases like Covid-19.
Margma had said its members collectively produce and export gloves to 195 countries around the world and supplied 67 per cent of global consumption. — Malay Mail