KUALA LUMPUR: It is crucial for foreign workers to undergo Covid-19 screening to avoid a drastic increase in positive cases like what happened in Singapore, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.
He urged employers to ensure their workers are tested, pointing out that that there was an increase in positive cases among foreign workers at a construction site in Ampang over the last three days.
Yesterday, the government issued an order for migrant workers nationwide to undergo a swab test.
Ismail Sabri said this precautionary measure is necessary because there were worries that a new cluster will emerge since there was a spike in Covid-19 positive cases among foreign workers.
"We don't want what happened in Singapore to be repeated here. There, the curve of positive cases had flattened but because there was a new cluster involving foreign workers, it rose drastically.
"I hope employers understand that we are doing this for the people of this country," he said.
He added that workers who test positive would be isolated and treated while those who tested negative can continue working.
If there are postive cases detected among workers at a business centre, the premises would be shut down immediately, he added.
"For example, if a positive case is detected at a factory, the factory will be closed,"
Ismail Sabri said in the early stage, swab tests would be done on foreign workers at construction sites starting in Kuala Lumpur, the Federal Territories and Selangor.
He added that more than 60 percent of foreign workers are contributors to the Social Security Organisation (Socso) and Covid-19 screenings were covered under the scheme.
Meanwhile, he said business operations in red zones are not allowed.
He also advised the public to keep on practising self-regulation and social distancing as well as other standard operating procedures (SOPs) under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) which began yesterday.
He said while most expected chaos since the movement restrictions were more lenient, it turned out that the first day of CMCO was under control with business premises owners and individuals seen adhering to SOPs.
"I am sure we can end the Movement Control Order (MCO) earlier than expected if we practise self-regulation and adhere to the SOPs," he said.