THE Visit Kedah Year 2025 campaign will not be successful due to several factors, including the attitude of Kedah Menteri Besar (MB) Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, who frequently takes a personal approach with his political opponents, said an UMNO leader.
Kedah UMNO information chief Datuk Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin said Sanusi is also viewed as lacking a team that is capable of carrying out the campaign successfully.
“I’m sure the campaign will not be a success as the state government lacks a reliable team and Sanusi is frequently overly personal with all of his political opponents,” Shaiful Hazizy was quoted as saying by Utusan Malaysia today (Nov 17).
“To make a successful Visit Kedah Year 2025 campaign wish come true, however, extensive collaboration with the Tourism, Arts, and Culture Ministry is required.
“Sanusi said that direct flights from several destinations are still disrupted and is adamant that this matter falls under the authority of the federal government.”
Meanwhile, Shaiful Hazizy said Sanusi should not be cocky and should instead immediately open the door for diplomacy in order to hold talks between the two parties.
“Sanusi should not simply deny the existence of the tourism problem in Langkawi.
“The fact is that Langkawi is in crisis, and visitor numbers are also declining. One of the factors is that the frequency of ferry operations has decreased.
“The tourism industry involving the B40 group is in serious jeopardy. Homestays and chalet operators are in dire straits. When the number of tourists drops, operators are forced to raise prices to make up with the existing expenses,” he added.
Shaiful Hazizy who is also the Merbok UMNO division chief further questioned if Sanusi is aware of all the problems.
“To make matters worse, Langkawi MP Datuk Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah suggested an insane and ridiculous idea such as building Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) from Alor Setar to Langkawi.
“At the same time, the state government’s track record of attracting investors to Langkawi is dreadful. For example, the RM40 bil Widad Langkasuka project is destined to fail,” he said.
On Wednesday (Nov 15), Sanusi said that the state government is seeking cooperation from the Tourism, Arts and Cultural Ministry to promote Visit Kedah Year 2025.
The Jeneri assemblyman hopes that the ministry would extend its fullest cooperation particularly on the promotional campaign which is set to begin by next year.
“We have decided to run Visit Kedah Year 2025 and we will set an allocation for its promotional campaign.
“I hope that the Visit Kedah Year 2025 will get full cooperation from the Tourism ministry at the federal level particularly on the promotional aspect beginning 2024,” Sanusi said in a press conference after chairing the state executive council meeting at Wisma Darul Aman on Wednesday (Nov 15).
He added that the state Tourism, Cultural and Entrepreneurship Development Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Salleh Saidin will be leading the promotional campaign on behalf of the state government. – Nov 17, 2023
Main pic credit: Utusan Malaysia
