MSM'S REFINERY RESUMES OPERATION FROM JUNE 15

KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 -- MSM Malaysia Holdings Bhd’s wholly-owned subsidiary, MSM Prai Bhd, has been permitted to resume the operation of its refinery from June 15, 2021, earlier than expected, by adhering to the standard operating procedures and guidelines outlined by the authorities for the industrial sector.

Initially, the refinery was ordered to temporarily suspend its operations from June 8 until June 17 by the Ministry of Health (MOH) for the disinfection of affected premises in curbing the spread of COVID-19.

MSM group chief executive officer Syed Feizal Syed Mohammad said MSM Prai would recommence its refinery operations in stages and is expected to promptly regain its production momentum in view of the refinery’s reliable performance and consistent production capabilities barring any unprecedented setback to the operations.

bootstrap slideshow

“We will continue monitor the operational progress whilst ensuring stringent preventive measures are being enforced to address the health, safety and wellbeing of our employees,” he said in a statement today.

He said MSM had also applied for a priority request on the vaccination program to be carried out for all employees under the company which is considered as one of the essential food producers.

Meanwhile, the sugar producer said the estimated impact of the temporary suspension based on the initial assessment to its revenue and earnings is less than five per cent for the financial year ending Dec 31, 2021.

It said the company is also actively pursuing to claim the losses incurred during the suspension from the insurer and has placed in mitigation plan to ward off stock shortage and minimise the supply chain disruption through the recalibration of its business continuity strategy and utilising the allowance of permit to import refined sugar.

MSM said MSM Prai production capacity remained at 1.05 million tonnes per annum and set to ramp up its production to reach the targeted utilisation rate for the year.

Previously, all 756 employees at the premise including contract workers, which consisted of over 92 per cent Malaysians, had undergone testing over a two-day screening period as a proactive measure and eight persons were tested positive and were immediately placed under quarantine with subsequent contact tracing for further testing. 

-- BERNAMA