THE appointment of a deputy tourism minister has exemplified Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) preoccupation with self-survival instead of rescuing a whole industry, said Lim Guan Eng.

“The recent hashtag #Kerajaangagal has shown that the Perikatan government is so obsessed with political survival that it has failed to address the crises of escalating Covid-19 cases, political instability and the absence of a plan to recover from economic recession,” said the DAP secretary-general in a statement today.

“One of the greatest failures is the lack of any rescue plan for the tourism industry that lost RM100 billion last year.

“Instead, the government is more focused on buying political support by appointing Senator Guan Dee Koh Hoi as the new deputy minister of tourism, arts and culture,” said Lim.

Guan Dee was appointed to replace Jeffrey Kitingan who quit to join the Sabah government after the state elections last year.

Lim asked how Guan Dee’s appointment could save tourism operators when the whole ministry appears to be unable to do anything.

The Bagan MP said the tourism associations’ appeal for government assistance have fallen on deaf ears.

“The Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH), which is facing rising numbers of hotel closures, is still waiting for government assistance for 2021, in the form of an extension of the wage subsidy programme, a higher subsidy for tourism, extension of the exemption of tourism tax, and sales and service tax (SST), fee and levy waivers for tourism for hotels and 50% electricity discount until the end of the year.

“Where has all the RM622 billion in economic stimulus packages and the 2021 Budget gone then?” asked  the former finance minister.

Parliament’s suspension, said Lim, also meant that the government could not be scrutinised for its inaction.

“That is why it is important for Parliament to reopen so that these issues can be heard and addressed. 

“Unfortunately, political survival trumps people’s economic livelihood until everything can reopen, except Parliament. MPs can be vaccinated but they are still not allowed to meet,” said Lim. – April 19, 2021.