KOTA BARU: The Kelantan Pas government is sticking to its stance that no cinemas will be allowed to operate in the state.
However, Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said the government might review its policy based on the current needs of the time.
"We realise that many locals have gone to Terengganu and other states to watch the 'Mat Kilau' film because they cannot watch it here.
"That is the issue being brought up by public recently, but what will happen when the 'Mat Kilau' phenomenon is long gone? Of course, they will not talk about the film anymore.
"Because of this, we (the state government) have no plan to change our policy at the moment. But we do not know what will happen in the next one or two years and the policy can be reviewed according to the current situation."
Amar, who is the state Public Administration, Regional Development, People Wellbeing and Integrity Committee chairman, said this when replying to a question at Kelantan's Development and Economic dialogue here last night.
Present was state Industry, Trade, Investment and Entrepreneur Development Committee chairman Datuk Hanifa Ahmad and the moderator for the programme was Dr Rosdi Hassan.
Amar previously said the decision not to have movie theatres in the state was made a long time ago.
He said the Kelantan government believed there was no demand for cinemas from the people.
The ban came into effect when Pas took over the administration of the state from Barisan Nasional in 1990.