Perak Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu wants the federal government to consider allowing industrial sectors that could contribute to the state’s economic development to operate during the movement control order (MCO)

He said many industries halted during the MCO, which is being enforced to contain the spread of Covid-19, is affecting the state’s economy.

One of the industries, Ahmad Faizal (photo) said, is timber as it would not involve many people.

“The timber industry, if not allowed to operate, will cause damage to the sector, and also there are orders, hence enabling the industry to contribute to the state’s revenue,” he told reporters after having “sahur” (pre-dawn meal) with frontliners at the roadblock at the Jelapang Toll today.

Ahmad Faizal said another industry that could be allowed to operate during MCO is the quarry.

“For the quarry industry, the state government is allowed to make a decision and we choose to allow the industry to operate because it does not involve the public and (location) is far from residential areas," he added.

On food contribution to frontline workers, he said about 7,000 packs of food are prepared every day during Ramadan to be distributed to the frontiners through the district offices and Social Welfare Department for the breaking of fast and the pre-dawn meal. - Bernama

Keep up with the latest information on the outbreak in the country with Malaysiakini's free Covid-19 tracker.

Malaysiakini is providing free access to the most important updates on the coronavirus pandemic. You can find them here.

Help keep independent media alive - subscribe to Malaysiakini.