Singapore, 1 Apr 2020 – Dear Colleagues, I hope you and your family are keeping well. For more than 80 years, Musim Mas has always strived to excel in all our undertakings, and to be the preferred supply chain partner to all of our customers. Our mission is even more important now during this unprecedented time, as the whole world hunkers down to fight the battle against COVID-19.
This is certainly not an easy time for us all. No one could have imagined that this “Black Swan” event would escalate to such massive proportions and impact our lives in so many ways! Yet, it is NOT the time to feel down. As Winston Churchill once said, “The price of greatness is responsibility”. Now is the time for each of us to be great – to ourselves, to our loved ones, to our community, to our country– through our personal acts of responsibility.
To our more than 37,000 employees across 13 countries, I would like to express my deepest gratitude for keeping our factories and operations running despite these difficult times. Your efforts are vital in ensuring that all the key materials that we produce to support so many other industries are still accessible. The essential items people continue to be able to access, from soap and edible oil, to Biofuel , is made possible in no small part thanks to your ongoing commitment and dedication to your work.
Rest assured, the Management will do all in our power to make sure you remain healthy and safe during this time, and that your workplaces remain COVID-free. We have implemented various measures with your local HR teams, including work-from-home, staggered working hours for those who need to remain in their workplaces, alternate offices for different teams and constant cleaning and sanitation.
For employees working in remote areas such as plantations, we urge you to remain at your work place and stop all travels to reduce the risk of infection. Visit your company polyclinics at the first signs of symptoms for immediate medical assistance. In the event that there are suspected cases of COVID-19, we have prepared designated areas in the plantations for isolation and quarantine to limit the spread. Please follow the Company directives to ensure that you and your families remain safe.
Musim Mas has also extended its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts to assist our stakeholders and communities in combating this pandemic. We are now a partner in the Indonesia government’s efforts to expand the availability of testing for COVID-19. Our businesses are also making monetary and supply contributions to local and regional COVID-19 relief efforts, supporting all the communities where we operate.
Musim Mas has gone through various global challenges in the past: the Asian Financial Crisis in 1998; SARS in 2003; and the Global Financial Crisis in 2008. Through each crisis, we have emerged strongerthan before. This COVID-19 crisis upon us is unprecedented, no doubt. However, working together hand-in-hand and across the ranks, I am confident we will emerge stronger than ever.
It is so important to me that all of you remain healthy and safe during this time, and that our workplaces are COVID-free. I thank you for your cooperation and support in our collective fight against COVID-19.
Your health is our wealth. Keep safe, keep strong and keep going.
We will get through this together.
Warm regards,
Executive Chairman & CEO
