The Malaysian Association of Tour Agency ( MATA)  urges the government to speed up implementing the National Economic Regeneration Plan (PENJANA), which is linked to the financing facilities in the tourism sector worth RM 1 billion.

President Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun has indicated that funding facilities should be initiated by the Bank of Negara in Malaysia and the Ministry of Tourism, the Arts and Culture (MOTAC) in early July before their start to July 15, but that until now there had been no announcement on this matter.

He said that during a discussion with BNM on 16 June, MATA told BNM to scrutinize three key elements to boost the tourism sector, i.e. travel allowances, soft loans, and the moratorium extension.

Mohd Khalid, therefore, said that MOTAC should be a mediator in facilitating discussions with the fund providers as provided by BNM and the government agencies concerned so that the players from the tourism industry can meet to facilitate the distribution of funds.

He said MOTAC should restore the industry at once, rightly utilize existing funds, such as the Tourism Infrastructure Fund (TIF) of 1 billion RM and the Special Fund for Tourism (SFT3).

"The Malaysian Tourism Promotion Scheme (GAMELAN Malaysia) should also speed up payments to activists in the tourism sector because it's not the time for bureaucracies such as waiting for all officials to meet to see before approval is granted," he said in a statement.

MOTAC Secretary-General Datuk Dr Noor Zari Hamat said BNM and the ministry would announce a framework under the  PENJANA Tourism Financing (PTF) scheme in the middle of this month worth RM1 billion.

In the meantime, Mohd Khalid indicated that state governments should provide tourist players with tax exemptions and tax exemptions through local authorities for the recovery of the economy.