KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 4): Lii Hen Industries Bhd said the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) at its foreign workers dormitory in Muar, Johor has been extended to Jan 15. 

The dormitory has been put under EMCO from Dec 27, after seven of the group’s employees tested positive for Covid-19, and it was supposed to end tomorrow (Jan 5).

In a filing with Bursa Malaysia today, Lii Hen said the employees of its four subsidiaries — EF Furniture Sdn Bhd, CT Haup Heng Sdn Bhd, Lii Hen Furniture Sdn Bhd and Favourite Design Sdn Bhd — which are located in the same proximity, are currently under quarantine and isolation until Jan 15, as directed by the Ministry of Health.

The group said it had decided to voluntarily undergo a Covid-19 full screening (PCR test) for all employees, both foreign and local, at these subsidiaries.

The screening exercise which covered 2,700 employees of all plant premises and corporate offices of these subsidiaries, commenced on Jan 2 and is still ongoing, said Lii Hen. 

“The group has also taken an additional step to temporarily suspend the operations of these subsidiaries until Jan 15. Disinfection and sanitisation procedures will be carried out during the EMCO period.

“Subject to further directive from the relevant authorities, these subsidiaries are expected to resume operations in stages, starting from Jan 16. Other unaffected production facilities at different locations are operating normally,” Lii Hen said.

On capacity loss arising from the temporary closures of the subsidiaries’ operations, Lii Hen said it is estimated at 3.5% of their total estimated annual output volume.

It was reported previously that the first Covid-19 positive case involving the company was an employee working for EF Furniture, which was reported on Dec 23, after the employee developed symptoms and underwent a screening test.

Following that, six new cases — foreign workers who were in close contact with the said employee — were reported to be Covid-19 positive after undergoing screening tests on Dec 26 and Dec 27.

Shares of Lii Hen fell 14 sen or 3.52% to RM3.84 today, valuing the group at RM691.2 million. The counter saw some 842,800 shares exchanging hands.