Kota Kinabalu: All banks should consider extending the Covid-19 loan moratorium period by another three to six months as September is a critical month for business owners to decide whether to wind up their businesses.
Sabah Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Satta) President Datuk Seri Winston Liaw (pic), who made the call, hoped banks which have decided not to extend the moratorium will reconsider their decision for bilateral benefits.
“As our country has contained the coronavirus very effectively, we expect the economy to start turning around in September, and banks should not hinder the recovery by ending the moratorium as such act is like adding salt to the wounds,” he told Daily Express.
Liaw said if the current economic situation gets worse, many will close their existing bank accounts and transfer their funds to those banks that give a helping hand during this most challenging time.
“This might trigger a ‘bank runout’ if many customers start running away from those unhelpful banks,” he said.
Meanwhile, Liaw expressed full support for the candidacy of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal as the ninth Prime Minister of Malaysia.
He described it a breakthrough for a Sabahan to become a national leader.
“We surely hope a Sabahan PM will look after Sabah’s interest to develop more infrastructure such as highways, a good drainage system, a good railway system and a good public transport system, among others.
“We have seen Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal involved in personal visits to various ethnic group functions and disaster scenes like the recent floods. He is a Good CM and will be a good PM.”
