Second stumulus package: Satta also disappointed

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Liaw

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Satta) has concurred with the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) president Datuk Tan Kok Liang’s disappointment on the second economic stimulus package which focused only on the B40 and the lower income groups.

Satta president Datuk Seri Winston Liaw said the stimulus package only focused on providing short term remedy for temporarily relief to the workforce.

He said speculations in February that the impact of novel coronavirus (Covid-19) would recover in six months would no longer be valid as the disease has turned into a global pandemic.

“What will happen after June this year?

“No one could predict how long it would take for our country to be back on track like the 2018/19 period due to the profound impact of Covid-19.

“We are now talking of a negative Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 2.9 percent.”

Liaw said the government should come out with strong stimulus packages focusing on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) so that these sectors can survive without laying off employees at least for the next one and half to two years.

He said the government’s assistance to SMEs would not only benefit the business entities, but also the B40 and M40 groups in the long run.

“It is a one-stone kills a few birds strategy,” he said.

“SME entrepreneurs are akin to mothers.

“If the mothers cannot survive the babies will die. So please save the mothers.”