MATTA Proposals And Press Statements On The Economic Stimulus Package No.2

1 April 2020

Dear Members,

The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) has engaged and submitted our proposals on the Economic Stimulus Package No.2 to the government and to the Economic Action Council (EAC) which include one-off token support sum of RM 20,000 per company, 60% of employee wages to be absorbed/paid by government, to stop mandatory contributions to EPF, HRDF and other levies, amongst others.

On 31 March 2020 (Tuesday), MATTA represented by Honorary Secretary General, Nigel Wong, had attended a meeting with the Minister of Finance, YB Tengku Dato’ Sri Zafrul Aziz and Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, YB Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy binti Shukri to further present and highlight on our proposals focusing on:

1. Support sum of RM 20,000 to each travel company
   The Government to provide a one-off token support sum of RM 20,000 per company to help overhead operating costs.
    
2. Government to absorb 60% of staff salary
   The government should assist travel agencies companies to retain the staff by absorbing or paying up to 60% of the staff salary up to cap of RM2,500 each staff per month for 6 months from April 2020.
    
3. To suspend contribution to EPF
   The government to suspend all contribution to EPF by both the employers and employees from April till December 2020.
    
4. Proposal for leasing companies
   MATTA had proposed for leasing companies to use Bank Negara Malaysia directive on moratorium. Just like the banks that are having the six months moratorium, the leasing companies should do the same for their clients.
    
5. To boost Domestic Tourism post Covid-19
   The Government should provide double tax deduction for corporate companies that sent their employees for local MICE events (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions). The government should also assist travel agencies companies during this downtime when they send their staff for courses to upskill by paying / absorbing up to 70% of the course fee.

Below are the press releases before the announcement of the Economic Stimulus Package No.2 and the media coverage after the announcement which expressed our disappointment.

Please click on the links to read the full statements:

1. 26 March 2020: Stop EPF And Pay 60% Of Employee Wages To Avoid Retrenchment, Says MATTA

Please click the link below to read the news coverage:

• MATTA: Govt need help pay 60 pct of employee wages to prevent mass layoffs (Bizworld, TV3)
   
• MATTA minta kerajaan bayar 60% gaji pekerja (Buletin Utama, TV3)
   
• MATTA: Govt needs help pay 60 pct employee wages to prevent mass layoffs (Nightline, TV3)
   
• MATTA urges govt to stop mandatory contribution to EPF (Bernama TV)
   
• MATTA wants private sector mandatory contributions halted (Mandarin 8TV)
   
• 'Stop EPF and pay 60% of employee wages to prevent mass layoffs' (New Straits Times)

• Allow private sector to stop EPF contributions to avoid retrenchment - MATTA (Malaysiakini)

• MATTA: Allow private sector to stop EPF contributions to avoid retrenchment (Malay Mail)

• Allow private sector to stop EPF contributions to avoid retrenchment - MATTA (Bernama)

• Help us save jobs, MATTA pleads (The Sun Daily)

• MATTA: Allow private sector to stop mandatory EPF contributions for the year (The Edge Markets)

• MATTA: Allow firms to stop EPF contribution, govt should absorb 60% of staff salaries (Focus Malaysia)

• MATTA mohon bantuan kerajaan (Berita Harian)

• Government should help to pay 60pct of worker salary (Sin Chew Daily)

• MATTA: Should allow companies to suspend EPF contribution (Nanyang Siang Pau)

• Allow private sector to stop EPF contributions to avoid retrenchment - MATTA (Kwong Wah Yit Poh)
   
• Stop mandatory EPF deduction (China Press)

• MATTA: Hope for government to pay salary for tour operators (Guang Ming Daily)

• `Take initiatives that protect jobs` (New Sarawak Tribune)

• Allow private sector to stop mandatory EPF contributions, calls MATTA (New Sabah Times KK)

• Allow private sector to stop mandatory EPF contributions, calls MATTA (New Sabah Times)

2. 26 March 2020: Leasing Companies Should Use BNM Directives on Moratorium, Says MATTA

Please click the link below to read the news coverage:

• MATTA: Leasing companies should use BNM’s directive on moratorium (Business Today)

• MATTA: Leasing companies should use BNM directive (Borneo Post (KK))
   
• MATTA: Leasing companies should use BNM directive (Borneo Post Kuching)

• Follow BNM, leasing companies told (New Sarawak Tribune)

3. 27 March 2020: MATTA Disappointed with Second Economic Stimulus Package, Fears More Will Lose Jobs

Please click the link below to read the news coverage:

• PKS, Peruncit & Ejen Pelancongan Bimbang Nasib Terjejas (Buletin Utama, TV3)

• Mixed reactions over stimulus package (Nightline, TV3)

• MATTA hopes govt address protecting jobs issue (Bernama TV)

• MATTA: Second stimulus package fails to protect tourism SMEs (The Star)

• Don’t forget SMEs in tourism sector (The Star)
   
• Hoteliers, tourism players want a bigger cushion (The Star)

• RM250b stimulus: Industries ask where is the aid to keep jobs? (Malay Mail)
   
• Stimulus package fails to address employment issues, says MATTA (Free Malaysia Today)

• Knockdown blow for Malaysia’s tourism industry (Malaysiakini)

• MATTA expresses disappointment over Economic Stimulus Package (Business Today)
   
• Pakej rangsangan gagal tangani isu berkait pekerja, kata MATTA (Free Malaysia Today)

• Second stimulus package disappointing - MATTA (Borneo Post KK))

• MATTA is disappointed with the stimulus package (Daily Express)

We shall continue to update members on further development from time to time.

Thank you.

DATUK TAN KOK LIANG
President MATTA
Term 2019 - 2021