THE Wuhan virus outbreak has temporarily scotched plans by businessmen from China and Malaysia to pursue opportunities in both countries.

Malaysia had been depending on tourists from China to boost its Visit Malaysia Year 2020 campaign, while cultural groups and businessmen from both nations were anticipating more exchanges for the Malaysia-China cultural travel year. 

But the sudden outbreak of the Wuhan coronavirus over the Lunar New Year has impacted on those plans. 

Chinese-Malaysian groups said they’re waiting till the end of the CNY festival, which usually lasts two weeks, to resume previously scheduled programmes and events. 

Malaysia-China chamber of commerce and industry (MCCCI) president Tan Yew Sing believes that VMY2020 would not only promote cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two nations but lead to unlimited business opportunities.

He is optimistic that the outbreak will only have a short-term impact on travel and commerce between both nations.

“Once things stabilise, the two countries will resume our exchanges as usual,” Tan told The Malaysian Insight.

“The Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism is discouraging Chinese delegations from going abroad.”

So far, the MCCCI has postponed a February trip to Fuzhou to plan for a large-scale Malaysia-China business summit scheduled for September.

A cultural performance troupe from Yunnan that was supposed to tour Malaysia has also suspended it plans for the time being.

“We agreed to take a break now. We have confidence in the World Health Organisation and China’s health authorities in their handling of the disease. At present, we can only wait for the latest news,” Tan said.

“I estimate that when this epidemic is under control, cultural activities or business exchanges between Malaysia and China will resume as usual.”

Malaysia is among a handful of nations trying to contain an outbreak of the novel coronavirus from Wuhan that has sickened 2,800 the world over and killed 82 in China.

Putrajaya has confirmed four cases, all of them Chinese tourists.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the situation in Malaysia is not serious enough to warrant barring Chinese nationals from entering the country.

China, meanwhile, has placed nearly 60 million people in lockdowns across provinces and cities to contain the virus’ spread.

A Chinese Malaysian cultural association, Hua Zong said so far, none of its visitors from China has cancelled plans to attend its CNY gathering. 

Hua Zong president Goh Tian Chuan said that the delegations, from Beijing and Fujian will be attending the bash on February 3.

“These delegations are mainly from Beijing and Fujian provinces, and there are no delegations from Wuhan.” – January 28, 2020.