GE14 | Langkawi PAS wants to promote Langkawi as a tourism hotspot with Islamic features if given the mandate to rule Kedah, said its prospective Kuah state constituency candidate Mazlan Ahmad (above).

He said PAS would work on the plan together with the state government which would, among others, prohibit Muslims from patronising entertainment centres and buying alcoholic drinks.

He said PAS had wanted to implement this when it ruled Kedah from 2008 to 2013 by developing Adya Hotel in Langkawi, which features swimming pools with separate areas for men and women.

“We had done it (like Adya Hotel) but we could not continue our rule so the project was abandoned.

"We will also impose conditions whereby if developers from the Chinese community want to set up a place where alcoholic drinks are served or set up massage parlours, they can do so but on the condition, they do not permit in Muslims," he said.

Mazlan added that people should not assume that their activities would be curtailed should PAS come to power.

“It is not that people can’t do anything if we come to power, but that we want to focus on Islamic tourism. For example, if tourists want to drink alcohol there are conditions. We want to ensure that Muslims won’t be allowed inside, and enforcers will not let them inside.

“That means we think that Langkawi will become the first Islamic tourism centre in the world,” he told reporters at the PAS headquarters in Temoyong, Langkawi last night.

He was asked about PAS’ plans for Langkawi if they win the election in Kedah.

PAS had won Kedah during the 12th general election together with its then Pakatan Rakyat partners. However, BN retook the state with a simple majority of 21 out of 36 state seats.

Mazlan said PAS’ plans to turn Langkawi into an Islamic tourism centre could not be realised following the BN takeover.

If implemented, Mazlan said he is confident that tourists would continue to flock to the island because the policies are focused on Muslims and would not affect non-Muslims.

“The Islamic tourism system is not impossible to implement. Since the incumbent leaders don’t want to take that route (we can’t implement it). If we don’t do it, Islam will be lagging behind and if we do it, we won’t oppress others. They will be free to do as they wish,” he said.