The Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers ( MACEOS) calls on government to lift the ban on business events and also to recommend that a standard operating procedure (SOP) be implemented in a new regulatory system to ensure public health and safety. 

President Datuk Vincent Lim suggested a structural strategy for a phased opening of business events beginning with the domestic market in the first phase of business and ending with an international travel ban, the second phase will draw business travelers to Malaysia.

Lim said that after the government permitted business events to resume in the domestic market, it would help to stimulate businesses for the local hotel, convention center, food and beverage, and other related sectors.

“Business events is an interconnected industry. The economic benefits will be cascaded down to many sectors,” he said in a statement.

He said business evets could help improve Malaysia 's economy quickly and revitalize it.

Lim further stated that business events should not be categorized as "mass gatherings" as they take place with strict safety and security protocols in highly controlled and managed environments.

In the meantime, MACEOS partnered with Business Events Council Malaysia (BECM) to deliver a key document to the government, led by the Malaysian Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), that it hopes would convince authorities and the public that the industry is prepared to mitigate the health risk in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Lim, the research is an important health and safety structure and includes worldwide best practices as a guide for planning corporate activities and meetings in the new norm.

“These measures are also following the Malaysian Ministry of Health’s regulations, and cover several key protocols such as sanitization of venues, health checks of delegates, crowd control, procedures for contact tracing, social distancing measures, and more,” he added.

Up to May, the business events industry reported total losses amounting to RM1.75 billion with 1,250 business events affected, MACEOS said.