ALOR STAR: The state government is seeking cooperation from the Tourism, Arts and Cultural Ministry to promote Visit Kedah Year 2025.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said he 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 here today.
Sanusi said he will be announcing a dedicated allocation for the Visit Kedah Year 2025 while presenting the state's 2024 Budget on Nov 24.
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.
In a related matter, Sanusi has brushed off claims that the Pas-led Perikatan Nasional state administration's strict regulations on entertainment events was a factor in discouraging visitors to Kedah.
"There is no such issue. In the entertainment industry, there are guidelines and this is applicable in all states across the country.
"However, some quarters are focusing on the dress code issue since it so happens that the Menteri Besar in the state is from Pas, so they are trying to create a narrative that Pas leaders are obsessed on whether people are covering their 'aurat' (dressed modestly). They are trying to paint a picture of things that happened in the 1960s, 1970s.
"That is the mistake in our understanding of modernisation. Some said as we get more advanced, we must cover less of our body. That is an unnatural belief.
"They said if we ban sexy fittings, that is hindering advancement, that is the words of mad people. We need to explain this to the people," he said.