Nearly 140,000 people have signed an online petition urging International Trade and Industry Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali to resign after he allowed thousands of companies to operate during the Movement Control Order.
Created by an account named “Kerajaan Gagal,” or failed government in Malay, the petition page came amid uproar against the minister for allowing companies to operate while many essential businesses struggled to register themselves on the COVID-19 Intelligent Management System 3.0 platform that issues approval letters for them to resume during the lockdown.
The online petition #AzminLetakJawatan on Change.org has gotten 138,000 signatures today and is close to reaching its goal of 150,000.
Azmin’s ministry reportedly approved the operation of close to 100,000 companies during the total lockdown that was expected to end on June 14, subject to whether the COVID-19 epidemic improves in the country. The full list of companies he approved was not disclosed although one of them is said to be the Carlsberg brewery, which had its application to operate revoked after many questioned whether it was essential.
Earlier today, Azmin said that approval letters were only given out after prior confirmation from the various ministries overseeing the respective economic sectors. The latest list of 17 essential sectors allowed to operate during the lockdown include those in healthcare, food and beverage, transportation, and waste management.
Coronavirus cases surpassed 600,000 in Malaysia today, after the Health Ministry reported 7,748 new infections.
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