Tourism ministry awaits updates of status of RM20bln economic stimulus package

Abdul Karim (fourth from right) presenting a certificate to one of the participants as others look on.

By Brad Rantayy

MIRI, Mar 4: Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Sarawak Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah could not confirm whether the RM20billion economic stimulus package announced by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad when he was interim prime minister would be continued.

Abdul Karim explained that during the announcement on Feb 27, there were no ministers or finance minister apart from Mahathir himself during the political turmoil.

Acknowledging that the economic stimulus package would help cushion the tourism industry against the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak, he explained that the package was supposed to be implemented over a six-month period starting from April.

The RM20billion economic stimulus package was anchored on mitigating impact of Covid-19, spurring rakyat-centric economic growth and promoting quality in investment.

“We will wait and see for any new announcement (on the stimulus package) by the new federal government , either they announce something new or do some amendment or cancel it out,” he pointed out.

Abdul Karim was met in Miri on Wednesday at the certificate presentation of Regional Specific Tourist Guide (RSTG) to 22 participants at a leading hotel here. —DayakDaily