Mud floods in Cameron Highlands may taint our country's image and affect tourism, says minister Nazri Aziz.

 

Citing logging as possibly contributing to the mud flood, the tourism and culture minister said today the disaster would affect Malaysia's tourism status, and create a negative perception of the country among Western tourists.

“This problem may be derived from human factors. Maybe too many trees have been cut.

 

“The natural environment is an attraction for tourists, particularly Western tourists.

"These issues will cause negative perception to our country: that we do not take care of nature. Of course it (our image) will be affected,” Nazri told reporters.

 

“Among tourist places, Cameron Highlands is very attractive to tourists, not only to foreign visitors but to locals also,” he said after attending the 17th convocation ceremony of the National Craft Institute in Kuala Lumpur.

On another matter, Nasri said his ministry “will take avenues” to have the Vivekananda Ashram, located in Brickfields in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, gazetted as a historic landmark.

Noting that the ashram is located on private land, the minister said the government needed to get the property trust council to agree on the matter, rather than to solely declaring the ashram as a cultural heritage.

“If it belongs to the government, it is easy. But it is private land, I cannot enter it and declare it as heritage. I cannot do that, ” Nazri said.

However, the minister gave his assurance that he would sit down with his secretary-general and map out a solution.

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