What’s in a name? A lot, where the 44-year-old Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) is concerned as it now finds itself facing a rival travel association with a similar acronym – MATA.
The acronym is that of the newly-registered Malaysia Association Tour Agency/MATA (Persatuan Agensi Pelancong Malaysia).
According to MATTA, generally recognised as the national travel association, the similarity in acronym has caused confusion in the marketplace among consumers, resulting in complaints in addition to causing inaccurate reporting in the media.
MATTA secretary general Nigel Wong said in a statement the association is taking legal action against MATA. It has sent a letter of demand to the rival association citing “trademark infringement, misrepresentation and the deliberate passing off of MATTA’s name and goodwill”.
MATA is also to cease and desist using the infringing mark and infringing name.
“We also demanded a public apology to be published in leading national newspapers, failing which MATTA will instruct it’s solicitors without any further delay to commence legal proceedings,” added Wong.
In the meantime, MATTA is seeking an explanation from the Registrar of Society (RoS) on how MATA’s registration was approved.
Wong stated that ROS’ records shows five of the founders and current office bearers of MATA are also the current office bearers of Persatuan Agensi Pelancongan Umrah & Haji (PAPUH), and two (out of the five) are from the Malaysia Tourism Council.
He revealed that MATTA, at an extraordinary general meeting on 11 September 2014, “voted overwhelmingly to expel all five of the aforementioned office bearers for causing moral and material damage to MATTA”.
MATTA currently has more than 3,600 members comprising travel agencies and tour operators licensed by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia.
• Featured image credit (MATTA’s office in Kuala Lumpur): MATTA
