Kelantanese don't need cinemas, they can watch Netflix - deputy MB

 

The Kelantan government believed that there was no demand for cinemas locally and therefore was not considering lifting the ban, said Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Abdullah.

In an interview with the FengRenGuan youtube channel, Amar (above) said Kelantanese have other options to watch films and the state government does not stop them from doing so.

"Kelantanese are not making noise about the cinema (ban) because they can watch Netflix (at home). They can watch everything.

"Thus, why pay money for a cinema ticket when you can watch (films) at home while chewing kuaci (sunflower seeds)?" asked Amar.

Kelantan banned cinemas along with number betting outlets when PAS came to power in Kelantan in 1990. At the time, the state government was helmed by Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

The state government has reiterated several times that it will not review the ban. Cinemas are not banned in other PAS-controlled states such as Kedah and Terengganu.

Recently, the cinema ban courted controversy again after Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari watched "Mat Kilau: Kebangkitan Pahlawan" at a cinema in the Klang Valley.

Fadhli had, in 2016, opposed having cinemas in Kelantan because it would lead to social problems, prompting netizens to accuse him of double standards.

‘Not a question of business’

Meanwhile, Amar said the Kelantan government's position was that the state's situation was different from the rest of the country and hence maintained the cinema ban.

He also dismissed suggestions that having cinemas in the state would give the impression that the state was pro-business.

"It's not a question of business. Few are interested in opening cinemas... Even in Kuala Lumpur, a lot of cinemas are closed - Coliseum Cinema and Federal Cinema, for example, are closed. GSC is closing cinemas too.

"Therefore, even if we didn't have such a policy (cinema is a sunset industry) because (films) are entering homes. To me, this is not a big issue. We are not stopping people from entertaining themselves.

"However, in the Kelantan context, we believe it is unsuitable. That is all," he said. - Mkini