Former European business chamber official criticises 'MCO 3.0' leak
Published on: Monday, January 25, 2021
By: FMT
PETALING JAYA: The former deputy chairman of the EU-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Eurocham) has blasted the group’s leak of a potential “shutdown/strict lockdown” after the current movement control order (MCO) ends on Feb 4.
Speaking to FMT, Geoffrey Williams said he was “absolutely appalled” that details of Eurocham’s meeting with the international trade and industry ministry (Miti) on Friday have been made public.
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“You are under Chatham House rules when you attend such meetings and you don’t then go out and leak such info,” said Williams.
“I have attended such meetings before and… it was completely inappropriate for him (Eurocham CEO Sven Schneider) to breach the confidentiality of a private meeting.
“This (MCO extension) is for the minister or prime minister to announce,” he said, adding that Schneider should “resign immediately” over the leak.
“The problem is that this (leak) causes speculation and confusion which makes people anxious during a very sensitive period when we need calm.”
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In a Eurocham meeting summary issued to its members yesterday, the body said that they were informed by Miti secretary-general Lokman Hakim Ali that the health ministry has made a clear stand on the matter of a “complete shutdown” of the economy unless daily Covid-19 cases drop by Feb 4.
A source at Miti confirmed that the meeting took place.
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Meanwhile, another business chamber, which received the meeting summary, has confirmed it to be accurate.
FMT has contacted Eurocham for comment.
This is the second time this month that Schneider has been in the spotlight.
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