No need for cinemas, Kelantanese can watch Netflix at home – Deputy MB

SHAH ALAM – The Kelantan state government does not see the need to have cinemas in the state, especially now that everyone can watch Netflix in the comfort of their home.

The state’s Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Abdullah said the Kelantan government did not intend to ease the no-cinema prohibition since there was no local demand for cinemas.

Kelantanese have other options to watch movies, according to Amar, and the state government does not forbid them from doing so, he stated in an interview with local Youtube channel FengRenGuan.

"Because they can watch Netflix at home, Kelantanese are not protesting the cinema ban. They have access to everything.

"So why spend money on a movie ticket when you can watch films at home while munching on ‘kuaci’?” he said.

When the PAS gained control of Kelantan in 1990, it also outlawed betting establishments and movie theatres.

At that time, the late Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat was in charge of the state government.

The state government had reaffirmed numerous times that the ban would not be reviewed.

However, other PAS-controlled states like Terengganu and Kedah do not have a cinema ban.

The issue was sparked again following Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari who had watched the newly released "Mat Kilau: Kebangkitan Pahlawan" movie at a cinema in the Klang Valley.

In 2016, Fadhli opposed the opening of theatres in Kelantan on the grounds that it would generate societal issues, which prompted online critics to charge him with hypocrisy.

"This is not about business matter,"

Amar however said that the Kelantan government would maintain the movie ban on the grounds that the state's circumstances were unique from those of the rest of the nation.

Additionally, he rejected the idea that the presence of theatres in the state would signal that it was pro-business.

"It's not a business issue. Opening cinemas is not a popular choice. In fact, several movie theatres, like the Federal and Coliseum, are closed even in Kuala Lumpur. Even GSC (Golden Screen Cinemas) also closed some of its cinemas.

"Therefore, even without such a legislation, the movie industry would be in decline because films are now being seen at home. I don't think this is a major problem. No one is being prevented from having fun by us.

"However, we think it is inappropriate in the Kelantan setting. That's all," he said.