Sultan Mizan reminds parties to conduct clean campaigns during state elections

KUALA TERENGGANU - Sultan of Terengganu, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin reminded parties contesting in the upcoming state elections to run clean campaigns and to conduct themselves exemplarily.

The Sultan said that politics of hate, including personal attacks and insults should be avoided to ensure that the unity of the ummah remained strong.

"I hope there’s nothing that oversteps boundaries, like personal attacks and such, in Terengganu during this state election.

"Political differences should never threaten this foundation and we should learn from the fall of the Ottoman Empire in Turkey and in Andalusia in Spain,” the Sultan said at the award investiture in conjunction with His Highness’ 61st official birthday at Syarqiyyah Palace here today, adding that the people should return to lives of harmony and mutual respect after the elections.

The Sultan added that the state government should strengthen the tourism sector to boost the state’s economy, and besides island tourism that was synonymous to the state, other new tourism products on the mainland needed to be better coordinated to ensure the state’s tourism sector’s continued growth.

Sultan Mizan said Terengganu had the longest beach coast in Malaysia, which had the potential to be a Recreational Vehicle (RV) Park capable of attracting tourists, such as in Kampung Mangkuk, Setiu and Pulau Kekabu, Marang.

"Also, the government needs to step up community-based tourism to boost the income of the local community. Such programmes can be empowered by increasing the number of community-based tourism areas based on the uniqueness of the area and the products there.

"These programmes will also ensure the continuity of sustainable environmental conservation as well as Terengganu arts, culture and heritage,” the Sultan said, while reminding all parties, including government agencies, hotel owners and guest to continue to tend to and monitor the island areas to ensure that they remain free of pollution.

The Sultan also said that the government needed to be serious about the matter and to tighten enforcement regulations and standard operating procedures in tourist areas to discipline industry players. - BERNAMA