I REFER to the report “Businesses in a bind over safety” (The Star, July 9). As a health and safety advocate, it is difficult for me to accept the reasons offered by trade associations, particularly from SMEs, that they are either still in the dark about the new occupational safety and health rules or do not have the resources to comply with the provisions.
According to the SME Corporation Malaysia, SMEs in this country encompass the service, construction, manufacturing, agricultural, fishery and forestry, and the mining and quarry sectors. Each sector has at least one trade association that they could join as members.