KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 – There is no shortage of medical gloves in Malaysia, the Malaysia Rubber Glove Manufacturer Association (Margma) said, as it warned manufacturers against profiteering during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Magma president Denis Low said the rubber glove industry supported International Trade and Industry Minister Azmin Ali’s request to avoid a shortage of rubber gloves in the country and for distributors to refrain from profiteering.
Low further clarified that local consumption is only 0.05 per cent, and that Malaysia’s rubber glove industry can produce up to 230 billion pieces this year.
“Malaysia only requires about 120 million pieces per year. It will merely take the industry six hours of production time to churn out this annual quantity.”
He further added that local distributors should not give out false information on shortage of gloves from manufacturers in order to inflate prices.
“All the private hospitals have not raised any concern about shortages and we believe the pharmacists are a disciplined lot and would not simply profiteer,” he added.
“And if the government hospitals do not have enough stock, Margma is ready to assist immediately upon request.”
Members of Margma have pledged a total of 19 million pieces of medical gloves to the government on March 23. Many of the members are also delivering the gloves to frontliners.
“Meantime, Margma is again exhorting its members to ramp up further capacity to ensure that the rest of the world will also not be short of stock, while prioritising the Malaysian glove needs,” Low expounded.
