Only 5-10 pct of COVID-19 cases from manufacturing sector - Azmin

SHAH ALAM: Only five to 10 per cent of the total number of COVID-19 positive cases are from the manufacturing sector, Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said.

He said data confirmed by the Health Ministry showed that 75 per cent of the COVID-19 positive cases today were sporadic, which meant the virus is in the community, while another 25 per cent came from various forms of clusters, including workplace clusters covering the manufacturing sector.

"Therefore, it is not true to put the blame on the economic sector, especially the manufacturing sector," he told reporters after visiting the Setia City Convention Centre (SCCC) vaccination centre (PPV) here today.

He said when the government decided on allowing several economic sectors to operate, there was the probability of COVID-19 infection occurring in those sectors, unlike the education and social sectors which had been completely shut down.

The decision, however, was made in the economic interest of the people, Mohamed Azmin added.

"The economic sectors, especially those involving essential goods and services, we decided that some of them must be allowed to protect the economic well-being of the people.

"When there are (economic) activities, the probability (of COVID-19 infection) certainly exists but the number is not as large as announced (from the total number of cases) because the virus is already sporadic, and that is why we call for the pandemic to be overcome jointly by adhering to strict standard operating procedures," he said.

Mohamed Azmin said Malaysia is part of a global supply chain and the government does not want any disruption to the supply of food, basic necessities and public health items such as sanitisers and other pharmaceutical products.

Meanwhile, he said the Public-Private Partnership Covid-19 Industry Immunisation Programme (PIKAS) for now involved the manufacturing sector and the government will focus on the construction and tourism sectors in the near future.

He also announced that a total of 16,564 workers had received vaccinations in Penang, Johor and Selangor through PIKAS from June 16 until yesterday.

-- BERNAMA