The effect of the PM's refusal to share equally the nation's resources with the two PAS-controlled states in the north has taken on the appearance of cutting off one's nose to spite one's face.

He has refused to approve a loan to improve the old and leaking water mains of Kelantan, referring to the state government there as being improvident. Now there is an outbreak of cholera. It is a water borne disease. The PM says he has better uses for the money. He is wrong.

The vibrio cholerae bacterium is spread through feces contamination, and typically it infects new victims who ingest well water that is too close to septic tanks or open latrines. Where purified water is supplied through pipes, the hazard is removed if the pipes are sealed against intrusion of groundwater.

Tourists who are planning new adventures avoid areas which will potentially make them ill. The news that Malaysia has a cholera epidemic is certain to be noticed by people planning a vacation to Southeast Asia. Should a tourist become infected, that would be a disaster. Following closely the news that a second hostage-taking has occurred in Sabah, this epidemic must be seen to threaten the entire tourism industry.

Travel to and from countries experiencing a cholera outbreak is generally prohibited. Malaysia may expect that soon other countries will place proscriptions on their citizens against travel to Malaysia and close their doors to anyone who has recently been in Malaysia. These restrictions on travel in and out of Malaysia will certainly have serious implications for both the tourism industry and the international travel of businessmen.

In addition to the threat from a cholera epidemic, Malaysia has a number of other tourist-related concerns. Malaysian companies have large timber and plantation holdings in Indonesia, and their burning of plant material makes smoke that creates a seasonal haze over Malaysia. Yet the Malaysian government has not been effective in stopping this threat to its thriving tourist trade.

The government is founder-father of a national airline that is fast falling from favour. Salaries are not being paid, and recently 35 disgruntled engineers walked away from their jobs in Kuala Lumpur's new airport, where the main maintenance operations are performed. Fares are being fattened to finance foreign fuel increases.

Efforts to trim costs by flying with low fuel brought unfavourable publicity, and now, if there is an accident, it will further frustrate attempts to turn red ink to black.

Natural destinations

If there is one place in Malaysia that tourists are attracted to, it is the northern states of Terengganu and Kelantan. The beaches are pristine, the culture is uncluttered, and the offer of relaxation in happy surroundings is enticing.

The scenery is tropical green, and the natives are friendly. The prices are magnetically affordable, and the facilities are fabulous. The daily flights have recently increased from three to 11 at the Kuala Terengganu airport, and the trend is definitely up.

So why is the PM so stubborn in refusing assistance to the people of Kelantan and Terengganu? The answer is simply that he cannot accept the fact that the people there consider him a failure as a leader.

His vindictiveness in illegally diverting the oil revenue derived from offshore platforms, a staple of state revenue for over 25 years (when his party held the state), has confirmed to the northern people that they were right in their rejection of him. He does not see that the rest of Malaysia disapproves his decision.

The PM must accept responsibility for the cholera epidemic in Kelantan. He is responsible for the poor image the country gets in the foreign media. The negative effects of his behaviour on foreign investment are his personal responsibility. The consequent loss of tourist industry revenue is his responsibility. Yet he accepts no blame. To him, everything is another's fault.

Yet all aspects of the tourist industry are inter-related. The hotels and restaurants, buses and taxis, airlines and gift shops, are all dependent on a positive public image. But nothing will change unless powerful economic interests start to scream. They might alert the supreme council. They might awaken the cabinet. They might invigorate the state representatives.

No need to tell the PM.

HARUN RASHID is a scientist avidly interested in the application of Islamic principles in international affairs. The promotion of goodwill through civilisational dialogue motivates his writing. His Worldview column is a personal analysis of Malaysian affairs from a global perspective.