PARLIAMENT Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz today thanked the foreign media for their wide coverage of both the Bersih 4 and Sept 16 red shirt rallies, saying this helped the government to save on funds to promote tourism.

"I want to thank CNN, Al Jazeera and BBC for broadcasting every hour on the Bersih rally for two days.

"They protested against the prime minister, but we got advertising worth billions (of ringgit)," he told the House.

Nazri said despite protesting against the sitting prime minister, the government allowed the Bersih rally, and this showed that the country practises democracy.

"I can save billions in advertisement by promoting a healthy demonstration," he said, to the laughter of the ruling coalition MPs who cheered him.

He added that both the Bersih and red shirt rallies did not have any negative impact on the country’s tourism industry.

"We have the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012. I think our protests were done in a peaceful manner," he said.

"The foreign tourists who came from the US, Europe, Japan and South Korea have been experiencing protests in their countries on a daily basis.

'It's normal'

"So, when they came here, do you think they will be afraid? It is something normal," he said.

Nazri was responding to Liang Teck Meng (BN-Simpang Reggam), who raised the issue of the rallies during the question-and-answer session and who implied that the Bersih rally had affected the tourism industry.

"The ministry organised various activities (to promote tourism), and then suddenly came the Bersih rally.

"I feel it is unfair to pinpoint the ministry, as the responsibility to attract foreign tourists not only lies with the government, but also with the opposition," he said.

Liang's statement was jeered by the House, especially the opposition MPs.

Earlier, Nazri (BN-Padang Rengas) took a swipe at the Immigration Department for not carrying out a cabinet decision, which abolished the visa requirement for Chinese tourists in groups to Malaysia.

He blamed the stubborn department for causing a 11.7% drop in Chinese tourist arrivals in Malaysia since the tragedy of MH370.

A total of 751,583 Chinese tourists arrived in Malaysia in the first six months of this year compared with 850,877 for the same period last year.

The cabinet had approved the exemption for tourist in groups of 20, which had to be implemented this month

Meanwhile, Nazri also agreed to consider making local celebrity Sheila Amzah as Malaysia's tourism ambassador to China following the suggestion of Anthony Loke (DAP-Seremban).