KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Bumiputera Entrepreneurs Chamber (SBEC) has called on the government to introduce measures that are more practical to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) during the conditional movement control order (MCO).
The group’s secretary-general Mohammad Zikrun said the approach at present involving economic and businesses sector during the ongoing movement restrictions has not been effective.
“SBEC hopes the government will introduce or enhance the conditional MCO to a measured and practical approach to really help the SMEs,” he said in a statement.
Mohammad explained that for the entrepreneurs in Sabah, especially among the SMEs which are mostly members of the chamber, the negative impact is far greater during the conditional MCO despite the ruling being relaxed for economic and business sectors to operate.
He said since March this year, these groups have suffered in terms of sales, as well as supply which has been disrupted.
“Sales have dropped tremendously while overhead increased, leading to many of these SMEs abandoning their business.
“The short-term and limited assistance from the government has not helped,” claimed Mohammad.
With a second round of movement restriction through conditional MCO, together with stricter rules and SOP, this will drive away customers and will further hurt the businesses, he stressed.
The conditional MCO across Sabah was implemented due to rising Covid-19 cases in the state since Oct 13 and slated to end Oct 26.
However, there are yet any announcements if it will be extended.
Prior to that, the inter-district travel restriction has been imposed earlier this month. – The Star