KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 17: Responding to a claim by Tourism minister Ng Yen Yen that discouraging Muslims from celebrating Valentine's Day would cause a decline in tourism arrival in the country, PAS vice president has suggested a novel way of boosting domestic tourism: political tourism.
Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (pic) said a main ingredient of this new breed of tourism is by-election.
“After the 12th general election, we have had 15 by-elections, with the 16th coming to Kerdau. These by-elections have generated many activities to stimulate the local economy, and this is a new attraction to develop economy,” quipped the PAS commissioner for Pahang.
Ng had recently cited PAS Youth’s move to counsel unmarried Muslim couples against immoral activities as being the reason for drop in the tourist arrival. She however did not substantiate her worries with facts or statistics.
'Locals' death wish'
Tuan Ibrahim further remarked that such has been the lure of contracts worth millions that locals in areas affected by by-elections "wished for their representatives to die earlier".
Unlike Ng (left) however, Tuan Ibrahim backed his claims, however sarcastic it sounds, pointing out to rental rate which skyrocketed in Galas, Tenang, Batang Ai, as well as in Kerdau where a by-election is looming, which saw monthly rate shooting from about RM200 to some RM4000.
“Similarly, the food industry, restaurants and printing companies will also benefit during a by-election. Not to mention political running dogs who will reap rewardd from the people’s money during that time,” he added.
But short of murder, how does one ensure that by-elections are called for every now and then to boost "political tourism"?
Tuan Ibrahim has prepared the answer: new election rules can be introduced, including a requirement that candidates must be above 70 years of age, suffer serious medical illness as well as fraught with financial problems.
http://en.harakahdaily.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2288:drop-in-tourism-can-be-remedied-by-candidates-dropping-dead&catid=34:primary&Itemid=56
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