GEORGE TOWN: If they have it their way, money changers here want the government to open the country’s borders as early as March 1, saying that it is “time to live with Covid-19”.They claimed that the very survival of their business depended on the reopening of the borders as many were fast closing shop.
“We lost more than RM15mil in the last two years, not being able to see any light at the end of tunnel,” said Muslim Jewellers and Money Changers Association of Penang president Datuk Dr Anvar Hussein Rahumathullah.
“The government can’t hold back the reopening of the borders any longer as Covid-19 is here to stay and most of the neighbouring countries have realised that.
“Our 38 members have retrenched more than 50 workers as they found it hard to sustain their business.
“Our business depends on international tourists,” he said.
Anvar said Singapore announced new Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL) with Hong Kong, Israel and the Philippines as well as the extension of the VTL with all Thai cities beyond Bangkok.
“Indonesia too currently allows travellers from Singapore to travel under its travel bubble to Batam and Bintan without the need for quarantine,” he added.
As such, Anvar said the country would be losing out on tourism revenue as international travel had picked up again.
The association in August last year proposed that the government look into selectively reopening the borders to particular groups of international tourists.
It said the Phuket sandbox model, which allows vaccinated Thai and foreign travellers to enter the holiday island and stay for 14 days before travelling elsewhere, could be used.
The National Recovery Council (NRC) had proposed the reopening of the borders on March 1 to revive the country’s economy.
NRC chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the business and tourism sectors would only see a robust growth with the reopening of the borders.