Border reopening: Property, tourism sectors expect boost, says business groups

PETALING JAYA: The property sector is expected to see a boost as the country plans to reopen its international borders, says business groups.

The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) SMEs committee chairman Koong Lin Loong said that it would encourage the influx of expatriates into the country.

"We would not only expect tourists, but also expatriates who will stay for a longer term and rent or even buy properties in the country.

"The property sector consists of multiple sub-sectors and the reopening of borders would create a chain effect that will stimulate the whole sector again," he said.

He added that the shortage of foreign labourers in the plantation and manufacturing sectors would also be addressed through the latest move by the government.

"It would also help in lowering the prices of goods and services which will be beneficial to the rakyat, as labour issues are managed," he said.

Koong added that the opening of the country would further strengthen the confidence of foreign investors in the country as businesses would be made easier.

"The foreign direct investment coming in Malaysia would probably need foreign workers.

"Through this move, it could build the confidence among the foreign investors," he said, adding that, however, the relevant authorities and agencies should be able to work together to address the opportunities.

As more relaxations were given mainly to stimulate the economic recovery, Koong said the public should not be lax when it comes to public health and safety.

"However, opening up (the border) still means the people need to take care of themselves and the people around them.

"While the relaxation that was announced to take care of the rakyat’s livelihood, the Covid-19 virus is still around.

"Therefore, the authorities must continue to be vigilant through controlling the border to curb the virus from spreading," he added.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, in a press conference on Tuesday (March 8), said Malaysia would begin transitioning into the endemic phase starting April 1.

As a part of the government's "Reopening Safely" plan, he said that under the endemic phase, operation hours for businesses would no longer be limited and the international borders would also be opened.

Malay Chambers of Commerce Malaysia (DPMM) president Abdul Halim Husin said the chamber hoped that the transition to endemicity would help economic recovery of the country, especially through the tourism and hospitality sectors.

He also added that the abolition of limits on operation hours would be able to attract the foreign visitors, as Malaysia was known for its past-midnight gastronomic experiences.

"As the border reopening is aligned with the abolition of the operating hours by premises, it would help in promoting the food culture in Malaysia.

"Not only among the locals, but also towards the foreign visitors especially in some states such as Penang and Melaka," Abdul Halim said.

He also added that the move would enable the restaurant and small eateries operators to rehire workers that they had to let go due to the pandemic to help them operate beyond the existing operation hours.

"It would help to address the lack of job opportunities among the locals as more businesses will be allowed to operate over midnight, especially the food and beverage sector," he said.

However, mamak restaurant operators said they would still struggle with labour issues despite more endemic transition relaxations being announced.

Malaysian Indian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association (Presma) president Datuk Jawahar Ali Taib Khan urged the government to consider their application to bring in foreign workers to support the sector.

"We appreciate that we can now operate longer but the issue now is we are still waiting for approval from the Human Resource ministry to allow us to bring in new foreign workers, mainly from India.

"The border reopening and extension of business hours would be helpful, however, the situation of mamak restaurants would probably only return to normal after Hari Raya," he told The Star when contacted.

He added that from April 1, only a certain number of mamak restaurants would probably be able to operate 24 hours while the rest might still be closed early.