SHAH ALAM – Kelantan’s flood situation continues to worsen, with over 77,000 people displaced and entire areas left without electricity, according to local media reports.
However, amidst the ongoing crisis, the Kelantan government’s proposal to turn the monsoon season into a tourism attraction triggered widespread controversy.
Speaking to Awani, Kelantan's State Committee Chairman for Tourism, Culture, Arts, and Heritage Datuk Kamarudin Md Noor suggested leveraging the monsoon season to attract visitors.
He expressed hope that the initiative would revitalise the state’s tourism during an otherwise 'quiet' period.
"This is merely a trial to promote the monsoon season as an appealing time for visitors.
"However, there must be events. For this, our initial plan includes organising a surfing event in mid-December.
"We aim to introduce the monsoon season as a tourism product. Another highlight is showcasing traditional monsoon season foods," he said yesterday.
Kamarudin stated that the state government was exploring ways to promote activities such as monsoon-season surfing and traditional seasonal foods to attract tourists.
Recognising that many businesses were affected by the floods, Kamarudin expressed hope that this initiative could help traders generate income during the monsoon period, with hotel operators potentially contributing by offering special packages during this time.
As a trial run, the government planned to introduce a surfing event at Pantai Kemayan in the middle of next month.
Despite the potential benefits, the proposal drew backlash from various quarters, with many questioning its timing and appropriateness during a natural disaster.
Umno Secretary-General Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki was among the first to voice his opposition.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, he called the proposal "short-sighted” and slammed its insensitivity to the victims.
"I cannot agree with the Kelantan Pas state government’s proposal to turn floods into a tourism product.
"Floods are disasters that must be addressed holistically and effectively, as they involve safety, loss of lives, and destruction of property,” the statement read.
Asyraf also pointed out that just the day before, a man in Pasir Puteh had lost his life in the disaster.
He urged the government to explore alternative ideas to boost Kelantan’s tourism, emphasising that there were plenty of other opportunities to focus on tourism.
"Now is the time for state and Federal Governments to unite in saving lives and helping citizens cope with this worsening crisis,” he added.
The proposal also initiated significant public criticism, with many deeming it unreasonable and inappropriate, especially under the guise of promoting tourism.
Netizens argued that natural disasters, far from being an attraction, were tragedies that should be managed with care and compassion for the affected people.
@flowertulip commented: "Disaster is a test from Allah, not an opportunity for tourism. Please reflect on this."
@Azhar Ai questioned: "Is this idea serious or just a joke? Floods usually cause damage and loss."
@Mem Aloya Kueh Lapis also expressed frustration: "Floods are a tragedy. How can someone think this could bring profit? Efforts should be focused on flood prevention and finding other ways to promote the state."
@Yaacob Md Sam urged a more empathetic approach: "YB, floods are a natural disaster. Treat them as such to protect the people during these tough times. There are ten other months to attract tourists."
However, some pointed out a possible misunderstanding of the proposal. @Nila Pedita clarified: "He was talking about monsoon season tourism, not flood disaster tourism.
"The suggestion included activities like surfing during high waves on the coast and promoting seasonal food like river fish and cassava. At least that’s how I understood it, did I mishear?"