PLUS announces RM400mil losses in three-month MCO

MELAKA: PLUS Malaysia Bhd reported a loss of RM400mil over the three months from March to May due to the implementation of the Covid-19 movement control order (MCO).

Managing director Datuk Azman Ismail said the number of vehicles on the highways under the company’s operations fell by 90% during the period, from 1.7 million per day to 170,000 per day.

“Our revenue fell by 90% in March, April and May but it rose again from June 6 after the government allowed inter-state travel.

“That RM400mil cannot be recovered and it indirectly affects the company and its employees, ” he said during the “Executive talk: Leadership in steering the organisation across turbulent times towards recovery from Covid-19” at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka.

He said the PLUS management would have to adjust operations to cope with the challenging times.

Azman said this included having no programmes or festive celebrations like Hari Raya, no new uniforms and no salary increases this year.

“Whatever it is, I will not cut the salaries of the workers and will do my best to ensure that about 3,800 people can continue to work even in this difficult situation.”

Azman added that the number of vehicles using PLUS highways has increased to 1.5 million a day, and it is expected to continue to increase if the government fully opened the Malaysia-Singapore border in the future.

Meanwhile, he said PLUS had donated RM1.2mil to provide personal protective equipment and medical equipment for frontline staff at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital and Sungai Buloh Hospital.”