Minister refutes report, says quarantine hotels agreed to RM150 rate
UPDATED | Added details from MAH statement that FMT's report was inaccurate.
The payment cap of RM150 per day for hotels used as Covid-19 quarantine centres is what has been agreed upon by the government and hotels that signed up to the initiative, says senior minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He refuted the Malaysian Association of Hotels' (MAH) claim today that hotels that allowed themselves to be used as quarantine centres have agreed to charge a certain rate, and this is to be fully borne by the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac)...
- UPDATED | Added details from MAH statement that FMT's report was inaccurate.
The payment cap of RM150 per day for hotels used as Covid-19 quarantine centres is what has been agreed upon by the government and hotels that signed up to the initiative, says senior minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He refuted the Malaysian Association of Hotels' (MAH) claim today that hotels that allowed themselves to be used as quarantine centres have agreed to charge a certain rate, and this is to be fully borne by the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac).
"We were informed that the rate has been agreed upon," said Ismail in a text message to Malaysiakini today.
He was asked to a report published by Free Malaysia Today, which quoted the association's CEO Yap Lip Seng saying they were not aware of a RM150 cap imposed by the government.
For the record, MAH had since issued a clarification where they claimed the report was inaccurate.
"RM150 is paid by the government based on our agreement with hotels that have registered (to become quarantine centres)," Ismail (above) added.
The minister, who is in charge of security cluster, said he is getting an explanation over the matter from the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and Motac, and will address the issue further at his daily press conference on the movement control order tomorrow.
During today's press conference, Ismail told reporters that the government will only pay RM150 per day for those undergoing quarantine at 45 hotels in the country that have been designated as quarantine centres.
He said the government had contracted for hotels that where rated three-stars and above, but the maximum amount to be reimbursed to the hotel was RM150 a day.
Following this, MAH had responded by reportedly telling Free Malaysia Today that this was not "what we were briefed".
Yap, however, reportedly declined to reveal the quantum of rates that have been agreed between hotels and the government to have them used for quarantine, except that they agreed to offer a "very low rate" which would supposedly be paid in full by Motac.
Several hours after the portal quoted Yap, MAH issued a statement claiming that the report was not accurate and was made based on assumptions on Yap's remarks.
"The FMT reporter made the assumption based on MAH’s reply which quoted 'that’s not what we were briefed' in response to an earlier statement made by Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
"MAH would like to clarify that the association and its members are well aware of the room rate for the stays complete with three meals daily as per the government’s approved budget and agreed upon by its member hotels participating in the initiative.
"MAH was in discussion with Motac from day one and had been kept well informed on the government’s intentions. Hotels participating as quarantine centres agreed to the rate partially as CSR serving the government’s needs," said the statement by MAH, which also quoting Yap.
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