KUALA TERENGGANU: It really looks like there is no such thing as bad publicity. Bandar Baru Kuala Nerus made the news recently when the developer of the township decided to go with an exotic tree as part of its landscaping efforts.
Since then, the floss silk tree or Ceiba chodatii, said to be priced at RM180,000, has been steadily drawing in curious onlookers.
Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman said the unexpected publicity on the issue could be a blessing in disguise so much so that the state can even feature the tree as a tourist attraction.
“People will be eager to take a closer look at the tree following the huge amount of publicity in the conventional as well as social media,” he told the press at his official residence today.
Razif added that this may also call for additional security measures to be put in place to prevent any theft or damage to the tree.
He added that the tree was meant for the benefit of the public at large and not for the interest of anyone in particular.
Netizens had slammed Razif and the state government on the exorbitant price for the tree and at the same time questioned the manner it was contributed by the developer.
They demanded to know if the matter has contravened regulations of the ‘no-gift’ policy of the civil service and called for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate.
Razif had also announced that he was mulling legal action against those who had accused him of being connected with the purchase of tree and had said he had no knowledge of its purchase.
He said investigation into the alleged irregularity surrounding the purchase of the tree is ongoing.