Speaking at a press conference today, senior minister for security Ismail Sabri Yaakob said this would allow businesses, especially factories, to operate at full capacity.

The workforce for offices in areas under the CMCO – Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor, Penang and Kelantan – is currently set at 30% for office and management staff.

There were no restrictions for workers in areas under the recovery movement control order (RMCO), with heads of departments allowed to implement the WFH directive based on their own discretion.

“The (National Security Council) special meeting yesterday agreed with Miti’s suggestion to cancel the 30% WFH rule for managers and supervisors (in CMCO areas) as factory workers cannot operate remotely,” he said.

“Factory workers are often engaged in complex and technical work, with different staff having to work together simultaneously.

“This (lifting of the WFH rule) will also allow companies to operate at a maximum level, which is something decided by Miti and agreed upon by yesterday’s special meeting.”

He added that working hours for civil servants will be announced by the Public Service Department as and when required.

Workplace clusters have been one of the largest source of infections in the country, with five of the nine new clusters detected over the past 24 hours also linked to such premises.