PETALING JAYA: The business events industry is appealing to the government to allow the quick reopening of the business events sector.

       The Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) has asked the Malaysian government to reopen the business events industry to the fully vaccinated as soon as possible.

       “It is crucial for the government to understand that business events can operate safely and responsibly with strict compliance to the standard operating procedures (SOP).

       “The importance of our industry in contributing to economic recovery affirms the government’s confidence that the sector can operate safely while also providing a controlled, regulated, and secure environment for the commencement of business events,” said MyCEB Datuk Seri Abdul Khani Daud in a statement on Friday (Sept 24).

       He said the last few months also saw the business events industry acting as "frontliners" with approximately 20 purpose-built convention centres around the country having served the nation as mega vaccination centres.

       "We do hope that the government takes this distinction into account moving forward.

       “The business events industry must be reopened without further delay as Malaysia’s business events venues and facilities offer controlled environments to ensure both safe and successful events,” he said.

       He added that MyCEB was ready and prepared to take the lead in working with the industry in implementing the gradual reopening of fully vaccinated business events industry with the necessary precautions in place.

       Similarly, the Small and Medium Enterprises Association of Malaysia (Samenta) said the reconvening of trade exhibitions and business conferences were necessary in order for small and medium enterprises to rapidly return to the global supply chain and secure raw materials.

       Samenta central chairman Datuk William Ng hoped for the government to take this call seriously as the industry needed to work harder towards securing lost ground.

       “Please give us the right tools and channels to do so. The business event sector is not only important to the thousands of SMEs in that industry, but also as a catalyst and multiplier for the economy,” said Ng in a statement on Saturday (Sept 25).