KOTA KINABALU: Slightly over a year ago, Gordon Seet headed an organisation representing about 100 hotels, with its employees in the thousands. He was their voice.
As a hotelier, a career he rose from the ranks in over 20 years, he was the general manager of an international five-star hotel located on the shores of the city of Kota Kinabalu.
Now, he is a food delivery rider for several companies and a licensed property dealer.
The drastic change is all due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Seet represents the many who have to deal with reality, fighting against the many obstacles that come their way.
The former Malaysian Association of Hotels (Sabah and Labuan chapter) chairman left the hotel industry last year, and since then, assumed new opportunities.
A man who refused to bow down to whatever obstacles came his way, Seet said at this point of time, venturing into new horizons was a must regardless of its challenges.
Like any Malaysian, Seet said he sought all the assistance he was entitled to, but stressed some elements could be improved.
For instance, he had the six-month relief pay from the Social Security Organisation (Socso) and the Bantuan Prihatin from the Inland Revenue Board last year but not this year.
"The relief, too, was rather not right (10 per cent of the previous salary) and the assistance from the IRB is only for the first year," he said, adding that an appeal filed was rejected.
"The Employees Provident Fund's (EPF) i-Sinar and i-Lestari helped. But the recent i-Citra is not sufficient to cover my monthly commitments. The EPF should allow the same withdrawal scheme per i-Sinar based on 10 per cent of Account One.
"On the positive side, they have given me insights and opportunities to venture into new careers, hobbies, implement small business ideas and venture into various income streams I couldn't pursue in the past as I was fully committed to my career.
"It is not as much as I was earning previously, but I suppose it is a blessing as I now have more time for my family and myself."
Seet said when he left his hotel job, he did try seeking work in the industry in other states and countries.
"Unfortunately, the offers were less attractive if I were to relocate, with packages offered down
by almost 40 per cent and
benefits have either been reduced or omitted.
"Furthermore, there is no guarantee that employment will continue should the lockdown start again or hotels are unable to resume business as our employment is susceptible to being retrenched or terminated at any time, again."
But he's not given up hope. Reality aside, he still harbours hope of returning to the industry.
"Given the opportunity, why not? But it would not be the same as the pre-Covid-19 days. Any spike in cases could ultimately cause for tighter controls of entry and maybe lockdowns again causing business uncertainty."
Seet said: "However, the vaccination programme gives many a sliver of hope for the future."