TERENGGANU aims to gazette the PAS-led state’s guidelines on arts, cultural and entertainment performances as soon as possible after an initial delay, said tourism, culture and information technology exco Ariffin Deraman.

The guidelines should have been gazetted last month but were postponed because of legal technicalities, he told The Malaysian Insight.

“The rules and guidelines, overall, are ready. They were ready since December.

“We should have gazetted and launched them in January but there were legal implications that delayed them.

“We are working on it as soon as possible,” he said.

The rules and guidelines will ensure that among others, male and female performers are segregated on the stage, female performers only perform to a female audience in an enclosed area and they wear the tudung (headscarf).

The Malaysian Insight reported today that arts industry and tourism operators fear that the proposed guidelines will harm the preservation of local culture as well as Terengganu’s tourism industry.

Ariffin said the guidelines will also include rules for non-Muslim performances.

The move is in line with the state government’s plan to ensure local arts and culture retain Islamic values.

To critics who said the move would jeopardise Terengganu’s tourism as well as the lack of Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2020 promotions in the state, Ariffin denied that the state government had not done anything.

The state is working with the federal Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry since December and received allocations to run VMY 2020 campaigns, he said.

“There is actually no issue as we have done our promotions. If they want to say we have not done enough, we’ve actually done as much as other states.”

The state will monitor the campaigns and make adjustments to step up activities if they’re lacking, he said.

Local tourism operators have also raised concerns about the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak, but Ariffin said it’s too early to tell its impact on Terengganu’s islands.

The islands are still closed for the monsoon season, he said, so a clearer picture will only emerge after they reopen.

“No doubt there will be some impact because of fewer Chinese tourists to the islands but to what extent, we cannot be sure yet.

“In any case, it is currently low season for Terengganu as the islands are closed for the monsoon.

“We will know more in March, when the islands reopen to visitors.” – February 18, 2020.