BUSINESS or trade groups in Malaysia have wised up to the notion that if their subtle-yet-polite appeal to the authorities continue to fall on deaf ears, then the next best step to take is to let fly open letters.
Hot on the heels of the open letter by an irate Federation of Malaysian Freight Forwarders (FMFF) to Senior Minister (International Trade and Industries) Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali over equity ownership, another letter of similar nature has landed on the Prime Minister’s (PM) desk – an urgent appeal for the re-opening of business events industry.
Jointly drafted by the Malaysian Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (MACEOS) and Business Events Council Malaysia (BECM), both trade groups are recommending that business events (formerly known as MICE or meeting, incentive, convention, and exhibition) should be categorised as an economic activity that can facilitate economic recovery.
Henceforth, MACEOS and BECM said MICE-related events should be immediately allowed for fully vaccinated individuals.
“Business events require a lengthy preparation of several months of forward planning,” MACEOS president Francis Teo and BECM’s acting chairman Datuk Vincent Lim pointed out.
“Our industry seeks immediate reopening as forward planning is crucial for scheduled business events in the last quarter of 2021. Any delay in re-opening will seriously impact the recovery of this industry in 2022 and beyond.”
According to MACEOS and BECM, business events are sizable economic contributor to the Malaysian economy. In 2019, they provided RM3.9 bil direct expenditure and had an economic impact of RM9.2 bil.
“An example is the iconic Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF) which contributed US$1.1 bil (RM4.62 bil) of orders for our furniture manufacturing sector when it was last held in 2019. Sadly it has not been able to take place in 2020 and 2021,” noted MACEOS and BECM.
“Today, the business events community learned that more social sectors including spa, wellness and foot reflexology operations are allowed to reopen (effective Oct 1). Even restrictions on busking, lounge hotel performances, live performance activities such as musical theatre have been eased.”
Currently categorised as social activities under the National Security Council (MKN) framework, business events are only allowed to re-open under Phase 4 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP).
“Our members have given their venue at break-even cost or totally rent-free to help drive the vaccination programme (as vaccines administration centres),” lamented both trade groups.
“If the vaccination programme was allowed to be held at these venues in a controlled and strict environment, then why not allow business events to be held?” – Sept 24, 2021
