The foreign workers’ compliance with the standard operating procedure (SOP) on the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) is being monitored by an existing committee under the National Security Council (NSC).

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the move is aimed at breaking the chain of the COVID-19 infection in the country as the level of SOP compliance among the foreign workers is not as good as Malaysians.

“Today, it was discussed at the NSC meeting for the existing committee to look into the compliance of foreign workers with the SOP issued by the Health Ministry.

“We see Malaysians comply with the SOP and if Malaysians, as well as foreign workers can comply with the SOP, certainly we can end or break the chain of the COVID-19 infection in the country,” he told a media press conference on COVID-19 here today.

Yesterday, Dr Noor Hisham said the actual daily case graph of all COVID-19 cases in Malaysia showed a significant increase in positive cases involving non-Malaysians since April 28.

He said this was due to foreign import cases as well as the spread of the virus among non-Malaysians at several Immigration detention depots and foreign workers in various sectors in the community.

Meanwhile, on the country's readiness to open more economic sectors, Dr Noor Hisham said the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 should be extended for surveillance and monitoring purposes.

“If all sectors of the economy are open and Malaysia records one or two-digit new cases, then we are ready to implement the exit strategy. This is called "soft landing," he added.

Asked on cheap sale promotion being carried out at shopping centres, he advised employers to monitor the level of SOP compliance at their respective premises, as well as to avoid a large crowd.

“The cheap sale promotion is not an issue, the issue now is overcrowding of customers that they ignore the SOP, especially on social distancing and the use of face mask,” he added.

-- BERNAMA