Sept 15 holiday good for hotels and F&B but could impact SME productivity, say Sabah business leaders

The Star

6 days ago

KOTA KINABALU: The casual holiday declared for Sept 15, providing a four-day weekend for this year's Malaysia Day celebrations, will benefit local hotel operators, says Sabah MATTA chairman Lawrence Chin.
"For local tourism, this holiday could see more rooms sold as well as an increase in food and beverage (F&B) sales," he said Wednesday (July 23), commenting on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's declaration of the eve of Malaysia Day as a holiday this year.
However, he said Sabah already has too many holidays.
"This will result in an ineffective workforce for the employers since we already have a holiday on Malaysia Day, Sept 16," he added.
Plastics Manufacturers Association, Sabah Branch (MPMA Sabah) chairman Liaw Hen Kong said the holiday would increase costs for the industrial sector, especially small and medium industries.
"It has an impact on the efficiency and productivity of the SMEs, especially for factories running around the clock," he said.
Liaw added that it would help if the private sector were consulted when planning such ungazetted holidays.
Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCI) president Datuk Michael Lui, however, said that although there are already many holidays, "another day wouldn't hurt."
"I think... businesses can take a break, and catch up," he said.
However, he said too many holidays could make the workforce lazy.
Lui said that overall, Wednesday's announcements by the Prime Minister would benefit the people, especially the reduction of RON 95 petrol prices to RM1.99 per litre.
This would reduce the burden on the people, he added.
He said the special RM100 Sara aid for Malaysians should be opened up to more stores instead of specific supermarkets.
"It will help spread the business among more outlets," he added.