KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Association of Tour and Travel Agents (SATTA) expressed disappointment on the economic stimulus package unveiled by the prime minister on Friday which only focusing on B40 and lower income groups.
The stimulus package only focused on a short terms remedy for temporarily relief to these work force, its chairman, Dato’s Seri Winston Liaw commended on Saturday.
SATTA was concurring with Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) president Datuk Tan Kok Liang who was disappointed with the package known as caring package valued at RM250 billion on Friday.
Liaw asked what will happen after June 2020? Which was the prediction of six months recovery after no improvement in February and now the Covid-19 became worldwide pandemic.
“The impact will be far too much for anyone to predict how long will it take to be back on track like 2018/2019 period.
“We are now talking of a negative GDP 2.9 per cent, the government should come out with strong stimulus packages focusing on SME enterprises so that these sectors can survive without laying off employees at least for the next one and half to two years.
“SME entrepreneurs are just like the mothers, if mothers can’t survive the babies will die. So please save the mothers.
“The government helping SME is a long terms assistance to B40, M40 groups as well as the business entities, one stone kill few birds’ strategy,” Liaw suggested.-HS
