He added if business owners are forced to close until Covid-19 cases drop below 4,000 they may end up having to close for good instead.

“The government needs to make another U-turn on the announced policy of only opening up the economy further when the number of cases drops below 4,000.

“If not, many more businesses will collapse and die. Human misery and suffering will be increased significantly beyond what is already happening now,” DAP’s Ong said in a statement.

The Bangi MP also urged Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to come up with a plan for each ministry on how various economic sectors can open up safely, subject to strict SOPs, for those who have been vaccinated.

“At the same time, enhanced SOPs including strict testing procedures and protocols must be implemented at the factories and construction sites because these are where the new clusters are taking place,” Ong said.

Yesterday, senior minister for security Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that the current lockdown under phase one of the National Recovery Plan will remain until Covid-19 cases go down to 4,000.

He also explained that the SOPs of the current movement control order (MCO3.0) are applicable under phase one of the National Recovery Plan, with all social and economic activities not allowed to operate, except for essential sectors listed in the positive list by the National Security Council (MKN).