KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 (Bernama) -- On behalf of the Ministry of Plantation and Commodity Industries (MPIC), I would like to express my gratefulness and appreciation to leadership of Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council (MREPC) and Smart Glove Corporation Sdn. Bhd. who donated 500,000 rubber gloves each to the Ministry. At the Ministry level we have identified Government bodies especially those in the Front Liners to distribute this supply for their use.

As the Deputy Minister of Plantation and Commodity Industries, I humbly express our gratitude here for the tremendous help we have received so timely as we are currently fighting the COVID-19 pandemic in our country as well as in every places in the world.

As we know, Malaysia is the world's number one rubber glove manufacturer. Malaysia is also the leading supplier of rubber gloves to the medical sector currently facing the critical condition of COVID-19. MREPC is one of the agencies in this Ministry responsible for promoting domestic rubber products especially gloves, catheters, seismic bearing and so forth.

MREPC is working closely with the Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (MARGMA) in ensuring that Malaysian standard gloves continue to be the top choice in the world.

MARGMA estimates that the global demand of rubber gloves are 330 billion units. Malaysia's exports this year alone are expected to be 225 billion units a year, which worth over RM20 billion compared to 170 billion units last year; of which generated export earnings of RM17.3 billion. Our country's rubber glove industry is very important as exports from Malaysia meet 65% of global demand.

In this regard, the Government through Ministry of International Trade and Industries and Ministry of Health has agreed to list medical and surgical devices especially glove manufacture to continue operating during the period of the Movement Control Order (CPP).

We will definitely focus on the rubber sector and I hereby advise all the rubber sectors to operate and gain relief during the Covid-19 outbreak, wherein they shall always in compliance with the SOP set by the Ministry. This is to enable them to operate without violation of the law imposed by the Government.

We have recently received a report on 2 rubber gloves that have been found to be in violation of regulations that leads to environmental pollution in our country. We do not want this to happen again and I urge all rubber industry operators to comply with all the directives set by the Government and the Ministry.

Last but not least, I once again take this opportunity to greatly thank all the parties involved in making this event a success today.

YB Tuan Willie Mongin
Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries & Commodities
16th April 2020

Source: Ministry of Plantation Industries & Commodities (MPIC)

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Email: hajarzulkefle@mpi.gov.my
 
--BERNAMA