PETALING JAYA: A Bersatu politician has been called "insensitive" for suggesting that the Kelantan state government turn the annual monsoon into a tourism event.
Datuk Kamarudin Md Noor, who is also the state exco for Tourism, Culture, Arts, and Heritage, said during an interview with Astro Awani that the decision will see the promotion of activities such as surfing and food traditionally eaten during the monsoon season.
He said the state seemed “deserted” during the monsoon season as there were no tourists.
The annual monsoon season on the East Coast usually includes severe floods.
On social media, netizens have hit out at Kamarudin's suggestion, calling it 'insensitive'.
"It's not sensitive at all, every year there are floods. We have to read about innocent people who die because of floods. He has to think of a tourist activity.
"(He's) really out of touch!," wrote Zac Zakirin on X, formerly on Twitter.
Another netizen, @imas_shahperi, said one should sympathise with the rescue and enforcement agencies that had to "deal with people" like Kamarudin.
"Tourists are afraid to come during floods..is floods the time for tourism?" asked Nabil Fikry.
Some netizens even posted photos of the current floods in Kelantan.
"This is the view from my sister's house in Pasir Mas during sunset just now. How many thousands of people have lost their property (and homes)?
"Some even lost their lives and have to seek shelter on hills because their villages are submerged," wrote another netizen who went by the handle @akem_meon.
