THE Registrar of Societies (RoS) has given the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) 30 days to explain why its registration should not be revoked, just as Malaysia gears up for Visit Malaysia Year 2020.

This comes after the RoS found irregularities in Matta’s annual meeting this year. The umbrella body for local tours and travel associations now faces the risk of being deregistered.

In a letter of demand sighted by The Malaysian Insight, the RoS accused Matta of breaching nine clauses under its own constitution.

The RoS letter dated December 12 stated it was acting under powers given to the registrar under Section (2) and (13) of the Societies Act 1966.

“The RoS intends to revoke the registration of this organisation 30 days after this notice is served, unless it can provide satisfactory reason why its registration should not be revoked,” the registrar said.

Among the clauses allegedly breached include allowing members whose licences had expired to attend Matta’s annual grand meeting on July 13; allowing its honorary secretary-general to assume duties when his contract has ended; and, approving the Selangor Matta chapter’s financial statement at the annual grand meeting.

Matta is also accused of denying a member the right to debate a resolution at the annual meeting.

The RoS said Matta had also allowed a member from its Kuala Lumpur chapter to contest and hold a position in the chapter for the 2015-2017 term when he was unqualified to do so.

The letter was signed by assistant registrar Zairul Akmal Kasim and sent to Matta’s headquarters in Fraser Business Park, Kuala Lumpur.

Copies of the letter were also sent to Matta chairman Tan Kok Liang and treasurer Mohammad Faeez Mohamad Fadhiliah.

Tan was re-elected president for the second consecutive term for 2019-2021 during the 44th annual general meeting on July 13.

Meanwhile, Matta secretary-general Nigel Wong said the association will issue a statement today to clarify the situation.

“We will come out with an official statement on Monday to answer the allegations. As for now and today, there will be no statement from Matta,” he said.

According to its website, Matta, formed in 1975, currently has 3,400 members comprising local tour and travel organisations.

Matta has state chapters in Kedah, Penang, Perak, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan, Selangor, Johor, Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.

The association is popular for its travel fairs, which every year, allows thousands of travellers to take advantage of cheap holiday rates. – December 16, 2019.