KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 — Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said today the government should consider relaxing restrictions in districts with a low Covid-19 infection rate to allow more industries to reopen.

The suggestion followed mounting pressure on the government to allow more businesses in green zones to resume operations, in a desperate bid to mitigate the fallout wrought by the coronavirus outbreak.

Small and medium enterprises especially have pushed policymakers to provide a clear exit strategy as concerns grow that the extended MCO announced on Thursday night could send companies reeling.

"There are some views that we should look at the possibility to relax some movements in green areas,” Mustapa said in a webinar organised by free market think tank IDEAS.

Mustapa is in charge of the economic portfolio in the Prime Minister’s Department.

The government has already allowed some industries to reopen, over 15 sectors in total, and has indicated that the list could be expanded in the fourth phase of the MCO, which begins next Wednesday and ends on May 14.

But such a plan will be contingent upon their ability to comply with "strict protocols” set by the Ministry of Health, Mustapa stressed.

And to date, the minister said the compliance among companies remains at a high level, reflecting the success of the government’s decision not to rush the lifting of restrictions.

"The number one priority for the government is to ensure people are safe in terms of health, the spread of the pandemic is contained and if there are any transgressions of those rules and procedures, the ministry will act very decisively,” he said.

"The fact that we do not have many problems indicates that we are doing quite well.”

Businesses are increasingly worried that the MCO extension could force more to shutter and push workers out of jobs, and have appealed for the government to consider allowing workers to return to the factories and shops, at least for areas where the rate of infection is at a safe level.

Up until noon today, 65 districts have been categorised as green.

The MOH demarcates zones according to three colours to denote infection rates, with green for areas with zero active cases, yellow for one to 40 cases and red for 41 cases and above.

But whether or not these zones are safe is entirely up to MOH to determine, Mustapa noted.

Yet, he said the government "should” also consider looking into designating areas with low infections safe for businesses to restart.

Up to a million workers in so-called essential services have returned to work, according to Mustapa.

"Now the health authorities are zooming into the localities, that is the purview of the health authorities,” he said.

"But moving forward, I think it makes sense for the authorities to consider what else can be opened up.”