Kelantan's latest intention to impose attire policing on Western tourists will discourage tourism in the state. Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said. “It is bad enough that Kelantan remains the poorest state in Malaysia and it is worse that the hardline state government is relentless in its pursuit of its attire policy, with foreign tourists being the latest target.”
Dr Ng is also MCA vice-president and the party's Kelantan state chief.
“As long as tourists and investors, be they foreign or local, are decently clad, there should not be any attire policing,” she said.
Rather than being judgmental and punitive about people's attire, Dr Ng said the local authorities should focus on hygiene and cleanliness of premises.
It was recently reported in a Malay daily that Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat wanted the state's Tourism Information Centre to pay attention to how tourists dressed. He directed the centre to ensure that tourists abided by the dress codes of local authorities and in accordance with Islam.
“To station moral enforcement officers or snoop squads to be on the lookout for tourists who are indecently attired only encourages voyeurism,” said Dr Ng.
Being born and bred in Malaysia, with an Australian PR, the Tourism Minister should by now understand religious sensitivities. What has dress code got to do with tourism? Only the Minister can tell.
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