MOTAC to focus on helping industry players to weather COVID-19 storm

KUALA LUMPUR: Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, who was reappointed to the portfolio, has described the 100-day challenge as an important period for the ministry to help tourism industry players continue their survival amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a video broadcast on Bernama TV's Malaysia Petang Ini (MPI) programme, Nancy said within the 100 days period, the ministry would continue to implement various programmes that had been planned before but were disrupted by movement restrictions and the need to comply with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) set by the government to contain the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak.

She said the plans could now be implemented as the vaccination rate of the country's adult population has exceeded 50 per cent.

"They were many requests from them (industry players), but we could not give what they asked for without the cooperation of other ministries, so through the cooperation of the cabinet as a team, we will proceed with all the plans and make them a reality," she said.

Nancy said her team had started work by holding a meeting today to discuss measures to implement the plans, adding that the most difficult challenge now was to ensure that tourism, arts and cultural activities continued to be carried out in the new norms.

Meanwhile, Senator Ti Lian Ker, who returned to the Cabinet as Deputy Youth and Sports Minister, said the current economic situation has affected all Malaysians, including the youths, thus helping them to weather the crisis was among the ministry's focus.

"My hope is for us to solve the economic and employment problems involving the youths as quickly as possible to ensure their survival," he said.

Ti, who previously held the Deputy National Unity Minister post, said Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) will also give attention to inculcating political literacy among youths ahead of the 15th General Election.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today announced the list of his results-oriented Cabinet line-up which he described as a management team that will work with the people.

He said the Cabinet has to work fast and in unity in a bid to free Malaysia from the threats of the COVID-19 pandemic and revive the economy, adding that all the ministries must prove the success of their short-term targets within the first 100 days.

Ismail Sabri's Cabinet consists of 31 ministers including four senior ministers and 38 deputy ministers.

-- BERNAMA