In response to recent developments on the ground, AMCHAM hosted a follow-up Members Update session exclusively for members this afternoon. The Chamber has been actively engaging with the government in recent weeks and we hope that today's update sheds some light to our members on what the chamber has been busy with.

Applications for The UN Women 2021 Asia-Pacific WEPs Awards are now open until 31 July 2021! The WEPs Awards honours Asia-Pacific private businesses that champion gender equality in the workplace, marketplace, and community in alignment with the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs).

The Human Resources Ministry through the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) issued guidance notes on ventilation and indoor air quality to help reduce the risk of airborne transmission of COVID-19. The ministry said the guidance would provide important information about measures to improve ventilation and indoor air quality in workplaces, health facilities, residences and public places.

The number of COVID-19 vaccine administered in the country exceeded 400,000 for two consecutive days with 424,541 doses administered yesterday. On Monday, 12 July, 421,479 doses were dispensed nationwide. The total daily doses given out yesterday, 13 July, 260,286 were the first dose while 164,255 the second dose.

Semiconductor equipment manufacturers forecasts sales to exceed US$100bil (RM420bil) in 2022, which will be a new record as device makers continue to step up investments, according to a US-based semicon industry body. The Semiconductors Equipment Manufacturers Industry (SEMI) said on Wednesday the global sales would be underpinned by original equipment manufacturers’ (OEMs) investments due to robust demand for memory and storage.

As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on in Malaysia, Samtec contributed 500 sets of PPE in full to their local health department successfully today!

Thank you Samtec for your continuous support and keep up the good work.

The development of Iskandar Puteri in Johor — one of the five flagship zones of Iskandar Malaysia — is moving into the phase where the creation of an economic and industrial ecosystem will be ramped up to grow the city into one that is globally recognised.

EY has released its latest tax alert issue, No. 14/2021. This issue covers:

Hospital Kuala Lumpur is currently in urgent need of hospital equipments due to overwhelming number of COVID-19 patients. AMCHAM is seeking support from any of our member companies who is able to contribute.

If anyone is able to assist, please contact Kevin at kevin@amcham.com.my or Elaine at elaine@amcham.com.my

Hospital Ampang has close to 150 COVID patients now in, and for the past few weeks the hospital has been expanding the wards in terms of manpower, equipment, and proper isolation spaces.

Both patients and clinicians need equipments urgently to be able to do their work.

If anyone is able to assist, please contact Kevin at kevin@amcham.com.my or Elaine at elaine@amcham.com.my

Hospital Kepala Batas has set up the new Hospital Medan to cope with the rising numbers of ICU patients since May 2021. They are currently in urgent need of medical equipment. AMCHAM is seeking support from any of our member companies.

If anyone is able to assist, please contact Kevin at kevin@amcham.com.my or Elaine at elaine@amcham.com.my

AMCHAM is HIRING! Are you looking for a challenging and rewarding career in corporate affairs and policymaking? Are you enthusiastic and passionate about business and policy matters, especially related to Malaysian and U.S.?

If this is you, apply today to join the team as a Government Affairs Manager.

In May 2020, we published an article arguing that the return to the workplace was a new muscle that organizations needed to develop, not a plan with a predictable timeline. The need for organizations to build this muscle is especially urgent today, as vaccination levels around the world rise, infection and hospitalization levels in many countries decrease, and companies begin their return from remote.