Kelantan politician suggests turning annual floods into tourist attraction

Kelantan politician Kamarudin Md Nor suggests turning annual floods into tourist attraction

Datuk Kamarudin Md Nor, a politician from Kelantan, recently made headlines after he suggested turning the state’s annual floods into a tourist attraction.

He made the suggestion on Thursday (28 Nov) in an interview broadcast by Malaysian news channel Astra Awani.

Explaining his suggestion, the chairman of the Kelantan State Tourism, Culture, Arts, and Heritage Committee cited the “deserted” state during the monsoon season.

“We want to promote the monsoon season as a season that is attractive for people to come,” Datuk Kamarudin explained.

Wants to introduce surfing on flood waters

Part of his suggestion includes surfing in the flooded waters in mid-December.

To boost local businesses, he also suggested promoting traditional delicacies “exclusive” to the monsoon season.

Netizens slam suggestion

Datuk Kamarudin garnered substantial backlash on social media following the broadcast of the interview.

Many netizens found the idea ridiculous and even “hazardous” as flood water may carry diseases.

Others said turning the flood situation into a tourist attraction may be insensitive to victims as thousands have been displaced from their homes.

In fact, four people have died in the recent flood across Kelantan, Terengganu, and Sarawak, reported Malaysia’s National Disaster Command Centre.

One netizen even crafted a meme based on Datuk Kamarudin’s suggestion. The meme shows Malaysia’s tourism campaign, ‘Cuti-Cuti Malaysia’ slapping the hand of a flood victim, who as a result, drowned.

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Featured image adapted from Datuk Kamarudin Md Nor on Facebook and AFP via Tribune.