MyBHA welcomes PERMAI package for budget hotels

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Budget Hotel Association (MyBHA) has described the Malaysian Economic and Rakyat Protection Assistance Package (PERMAI) as supporting the business of hotel operators with a three-star rating and below.

MyBHA deputy president Dr Sri Ganesh Michiel said they welcomed the government's efforts in helping those affected by the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) to curb the spread of COVID-19.

"The Malaysia Budget Hotel Association is grateful to the government for its efforts in introducing some of these initiatives to support the continuity of our business," he said in a statement yesterday.

Among PERMAI's benefits as announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday are the provision of a special discount on electricity bills of 10 per cent for the January to March period, Wage Subsidy Programme 3.0 under the Social Security Organisation and the extension of the effective period of inability to perform contractual obligations to March 31 through the Temporary Measures for Reducing the Impact of Coronavirus Diseases 2019 (COVID-19) Act 829.

In the meantime, he also thinks that the government needs to review and issue special packages for more targeted assistance for the tourism and hospitality industry.

Among the proposals raised are that the Wage Subsidy Programme be increased to RM1,200 for a reasonable period, fixed or automatic instructions for moratorium assistance by banks or credit companies and tax incentives in ensuring the sustainability of affected industries.

-- BERNAMA