LANGKAWI

1. Saya baru pulang daripada lawatan tiga hari ke Langkawi.

2. Langkawi hijau, iaitu bebas dari Covid-19.

3. Namun penduduk patuh SOP dan pemeriksaan untuk Covid-19 dikenakan kepada semua pelawat.

4. Tetapi semasa saya di sana saya dapati keadaan muram. Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan yang dikenakan di daratan akibat Covid-19 menjejaskan industri pelancongan Langkawi.

5. Hanya dua tiga penerbangan sahaja dari Subang/Sepang masuk Langkawi tiap hari. Jadual penerbangan masuk, serta perkhidmatan feri amat berkurangan setelah kawalan pergerakan terbaru dikenakan ke atas Selangor, terutamanya.

6. Walaupun beberapa bulan lalu terdapat peningkatan kemasukan pelancong tempatan, malangnya pertambahan mendadak kes-kes Covid-19 telah membantutkan kedatangan pelancong ke Langkawi.

7. Peniaga-peniaga merungut, banyak kedai ditutup, ada yang hanya sementara tetapi ada juga yang gulung tikar. Pusat-pusat pelancongan kelihatan sepi. Kereta-kereta sewa banyak yang tersadai kerana ketiadaan pelanggan. Restoran-restoran yang dulunya tumpuan pelancong juga sepi.

8. Nyata PKP terbaru ini menjejas sektor pelancongan kerana ramai pelancong tempatan, terutamanya dari Selangor dan Kuala Lumpur tidak dapat berkunjung ke Langkawi.

9. Saya khuatir kesan jangka panjang kepada ekonomi Langkawi dan kepada kehidupan penduduk pulau ini.

10. Sebenarnya terdapat banyak cara dan cadangan untuk memperbaiki ekonomi Langkawi. Tetapi setakat ini kebenaran Kerajaan tidak dapat diperolehi. Mungkin ia disebabkan wabak Covid-19. Tetapi jika dirancang dengan mengambilkira SOP Covid, industri pelancongan dan lain-lain industri boleh diperbaiki.

11. Ini bukan sahaja boleh dilakukan tanpa peruntukan Kerajaan tetapi boleh menyumbang kepada pertambahan dana Kerajaan.

12. Saya fikir penyakit ini akan ambil masa yang lama. Kita tidak mungkin dapat hapus terus penyakit ini dalam masa terdekat.

13. Sementara itu, rakyat perlu terus hidup dan menjana pendapatan untuk sara kehidupan serta keluarga. Mereka harus diberi peluang jika tidak negara akan mengalami kehancuran ekonomi.

14. Mungkin ada sesiapa dalam Kerajaan yang boleh dengar rintihan peniaga kecil seperti ini dan beri pertimbangan. Saya akan terus berikan idea lain jika ianya dapat membantu.

8 thoughts on “LANGKAWI”

  1. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/11/18/syed-saddiq-introduce-039windfall-tax039-on-companies-making-extraordinary-profits-during-pandemic

    IT WAS RUMOURED THAT HE RECEIVED RM5 MILLION CASH BEFORE HE JOINED PH TO FULFILL THE BASIC REQUIREMENT OF YOU MUST BE VERY RICH BEFORE YOU JOIN POLITICS, CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG.

    DID HE DECLARE INCOME TAX, LIKE OTHER UMNO SUPREME COUNCIL MEMBERS?

    WHY THEY NEED TO HAVE WINFALL TAX WHEN MEDICAL INSURANCE IS INTRODUCED EVEN BEFORE HE JOINED POLITICS?

    BEKAS KK ADALAH SUBRA MIC WHEN DSN WINS OUT.

    BEKAS KSM ADALAH SUBRA MIC WHEN DSN WINS OUT.

    WHERE DID ALL THE SOCSO MONEY GO?

  2. Good evening Tun

    Hmm. Yes, I don’t think COVID-19 boleh selesai hujung tahun ini. Even kalau selesai pun, the phobia mau hingga satu tahun lagi. Selsema burung dulu pun makan bertahun juga.

    The Spanish flu, also known as the 1918 flu pandemic, was an unusually deadly influenza pandemic caused by the H1N1 influenza A virus. Lasting from February 1918 to April 1920, it infected 500 million people – about a third of the world’s population at the time – in four successive waves.

    I perhati apa yang Klang Valley buat, hotel2 bagi special rate untuk mereka nak guna facility dalam hotel. Murah sesangat. Teringat sedara datang hari Perak, sewa hotel dapat bilik besar melaut baru 180 ringgit semalam. Of course la itu masa COVID19 dah berkurangan, tapi sekarang kan ke sejak SABAH ELECTION, Covid-19 makin menjadi jadi. Sampai cecah seribu lebih satu hari. So how?

    I baca berita ada pilot buka gerai, ada pramugara buka gerai. Mereka semua niaga makanan. Mereka usaha nak cari makan untuk keluarga bila hilang pekerjaan. Hidup tetap kena hidup. Orang2 Melayu Tun.

    To me la, kena restart balik, kena reset balik. Macam bank card I juga, semua kena start buat semula. Bukan mudah ya, pada yang kena bekerja, walau sekali sekala masuk office, SOP kena patuhi, tidak ikut mau nanti mudaratkan orang yang tersayang, bukan saja diri sendiri.

    Oh yes, companies memang banyak kurangkan pekerja. My cousin sister yang kerja head of sale pun kena jaga booth. Why? Sebab company tak nak ambil pekerja lagi. Even my son walau masuk opis lambat tapi balik juga lambat. Pendekata selagi tak habis waktu curfew, kerjalah. My hubby yang dah senior citizen pun sekali sekala masuk pejabat tapi bila dirumah tak habis2 talipon sana sini. So everybody pun susah, but life goes on, ya.

    My wish politician berhentilah berpolitik, fikir masaalah rakyat, bukan sibuk nak tunjuk kuasa or tunjuk pandai. Yang ada sekarang dalam PN pun sibuk buat kerja tak payahlah nak ganggu2 mereka dengan macam2 hal.

  3. THERE IS NO PERFECT SOLUTIONS.

    VOTE COUNTS IS TOTALLY AN OPPOSITE OF STOCK RALLIES.

    WHAT HAPPENED WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP LOSSES TO DEMOCRAT CAUSED BY HIS FAILURES IN CONTAINING THE COVID-19?

    HE WILL BOW OUT GRACEFULLY IN A GENTLEMAN WAY OF MY WAY, MEANING KALAH TETAP KALAH, THATS THE GAME OF NUMBERS.

    BEING A BUSINESSMAN, HE CAN STILL CONTINUE HIS EMPIRE BY DEALING WITH LOCAL AMERICANS AND ANY FOREIGN NATIONALITIES THAT HAVE BILATERAL TRADES WITH USA.

    HE IS DOWN, BUT HIS IMMEDIATE FAMILIES ARE USA CITIZENS.

    ARE YOU A WARFARE, JUSTICEFARE OR PEACEFARE DEALERS?

    THE ANSWER IS NOT HARD TO PREDICT TOO DEPENDING WHICH COUNTRY/STATE YOU COME FROM, DONT YOU THINK SO?

    THE MOST HORRENDOUS LEADERS IN THE WORLD IS WHEN THEY KILL, WE DONT SEE BLOOD.

    WILL MR DONALD TRUMP BE IMPEACHED AND SEND INTO JAIL BAGAI MELUADAH KE LANGIT, JATUH KE ATAS AIR MUKA SENDIRI?

    SLICING TOO THIN?

    SLICING TOO THICK ALSO CANNOT BY INCREASING NUMBRRS OF SENATORSHIP PICKED BY THE NATIONAL COALITION THAT WIN MAJORITY VOTES BASED ON JASA, NOT ON EXPERIENCES

    SO HOW?

  4. International tourists.

    My view is that we should re-open the two main aviation gateways to the country (Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu) selectively for international flights from countries that:

    1) have spent AND are spending hugely on Covid-19 testing (numbers of tests per 1 mil. population) by their governments (eg. Western countries, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore. But EXCLUDING Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines or any other ASEAN countries that can mask/hide their actual infection rates), AND

    2) have concurrently flattened their infection rates. But the inclusion/suspension of countries in the list can be reviewed every two weeks, with sufficient notice given to travelers to change their itineraries and allowance for travelers who have no chance of altering their itineraries without incurring substantial costs.

    In my view, it is too easy to apply a blanket closure of our international borders without thinking of the tragic financial consequences for the country’s tourism and related businesses, big and small. A more nuanced and balanced approach to our international border policy is needed, to not only look after the health of the people but ALSO their livelihood and the financial well-being of the country’s business community.

    I hope government ministers (including the Prime Minister) reading Tun’s blog will rethink their policy on the country’s international borders.

  5. Dear Chedet,

    What you said is true. If we look at the SARS and Eboli pandemics, it took 10 years before they were contained. So there is no quick fix to COVID 19. Either we go for herd immunity or immunization.

    In the case of herd immunity, we need a critical mass. That is not a bad idea considering the virus is highly contagious but low in fatalities. Immunization will take a bit of time if they follow the proper procedure from animal testing to human testing. Certainly, it will take longer than 4 years. A normal cycle for vaccine production is a very meticulous process.

    Therefore countries like Sweden decided to opt for taking the chances with the pandemic. A more sensible action is to improve the immune system. We need a healthy microbiome and plenty of goodnight sleep.

    What can I say? When the paradigm shifts there are anomalies. The old paradigm will no longer apply. Time to shift. In this case, it is not survival of the fittest but the survival of the quickest.

    If this pandemic is the Greater Depression than the Great Depression, then I suggest those who are sensible to go for Voluntary Simplicity. That seems to work for most people.

    All the best with Pejuang, Chedet. Although I think you actually slicing it a bit too thin; if you ask me.

    Take care, Sir.

    Sine Cera,

    SJ
    MSC0072
    5/11/20

  6. Tun,

    Here is the headline which explains all, thus

    ” DR M. I HAVE IDEAS TO AID AILING TOURISM INDUSTRY IN LANGKAWI. ” The Star.

    Malaysia’s economy is now flat on its back and as yet there is no sign on how the Federal Government will take the lead in getting our beloved Malaysia and her Rakyat back on their feet again.

    Surprisingly, the 71 Ministers of the Cabinet have not contributed any ideas or innovations on how to create money which was lost either through thefts or spendthrift ways. Seven months have since gone by and we the Rakyat are still uninformed about the intentions or Policies of the Federal Government to save all 32 Million of us, the Rakyat.

    Be that as it may, our beloved Tun dr Mahathir Mohamad’s ideas on Langkawi must be accepted as practical and profitable during these times of need – of jobs and income. Surely, his ideas should be part and parcel of all that should be good for tourism for the whole Nation.

    Tourism is the first industry which all countries depend on as their very first steps to further a quick recovery of their economies like those defeated countries after World War 2.

    After World War 2 ended in 1945, Germany, Italy and Japan were completely destroyed by mass bombing by the Allies. These shattered Nations pushed tourism as their First Line of economic recovery. This was followed concomitantly by their light industries like the motor car industry. With the emphasis on tourism, hotel construction, transportation, expansion of damaged airports food and beverage industries and jobs began to pick up anew. The US Marshall Plan also helped concomitantly. By the 1950s, these countries’ light industries recovered significantly as could be seen in the Mercedes, Fiat and Toyota cars of that period. From thereon, it was no turning back for Germany, Italy and Japan with a clear and successful run to the 21st Century ! All began with Tourism from a zero base economy.

    If other countries could do it and with our Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s mind-set on Langkawi and Tourism, our beloved Malaysia and her Rakyay with proper guidance by the Government Leadership can certainly achieve great success at this time of Crisis and Age !

    However, we must remember how previous Ministers of Tourism treated their Portfolios as Ministers for Tourism without any care for National Interest.

    First, there was a Senior member of the Tourist Board who retired prematurely in the mid-1980s. Through a friend I met him with his wife at the Marriot Hotel, KL. The first question, he asked me was, ” Have you got a second wife ? ” I told him I already have 3 wives and looking for a fourth. Months later, one evening as I was sauntering around the Singapore Cold Storage, Orchard Road, Singapore, I saw this fellow and his wife ‘makan angin’ amongst the beautifully decorated retail shops there. I just walked away.

    Second, it was well reported that the MCA Minister of Tourism took her family in tow on a tour of the Southern Antipodes where the sheep out-numbered human beings by 1000 to 1 at Government’s expense. Instead of the crowded places of Humanity like India and China where most tourists originated, this Minister avoided the dust and the dirt with ease. Not only that, this Minister also sponsored an expensive orchid exhibition to promote LONDON at the Royal Chelsea Flower Show. Thereafter, she was awarded a Gold Medal by the Queen. This Medal rightfully belongs to the National Museum. Before, she finally left her cosy job, it was alleged she had some financial issues in her Ministry.

    Third, her successor was faceless and absent in action all the time. He seldom put in an appearance. Tourism in Malaysia was treated like the Minister of Law PMO but blessed with a bajet of hundreds of millions of ringgits.

    As far as I can recall, all Ministers of Tourism of the World except those from Malaysia never travelled outside their countries. This is sheer common sense and also a Ministry of Tourism is to garner as much Foreign Exchange as possible and not to spend it recklessly like the Malaysian Ministers of Tourism.

    Recently, one Minister of Tourism who toured Berlin soon after he was appointed, was asked “Whether Malaysia has LGBT or not?” Without batting an eye-lid, he answered, “No!”. This absurd remark went viral around the World and he became the laughing stock of the World. He did not even know that Berlin is one of 3 Capitals for LGBT in the World being San Francisco, Sydney and Berlin !

    With the real facts as presented above, it is hope the key to A SUCCESSFUL TOURIST INDUSTRY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD IS THAT ALL PARTIES MUST MAKE MONEY BUT NOT THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.

    For this reason, Lee Kuan Yew appointed his sister-in-law for a Lifetime as Chairman of the Singapore Board to make sure all money is properly accounted for and no hanky-panky of any kind.

    So when the IHH RM 100 Million (without commissions from generic drugs) MAN was parachuted as a Minister into the Singapore Cabinet next to the PMO, it was alleged he must have carried the smell of Malaysia’s infamous life-style with him to contaminate his new colleagues.

    SQUEAKY CLEAN SINGAPORE CABINET’S FIRST EVER MINISTER TRAINED IN MALAYSIA since 1959! I suppose his business skills were to convince the stupid Malaysians that he was worth RM 100 Million (without the commissions from generic drugs) when actually he was only worth RM 5 Million a year in Singapore ! Stupid Malaysians !

    But Tan Sri Dr. C.C. Too the most Senior Chinese Adviser to the Federal Government 1948-1982, once told me that when Communism comes into contact with Capitalism, Communism gets CORRUPTED!

    That was why Lee Kuan Yew kept a pole’s length away from such characters from the PRIVATE SECTOR. That was the secret of his success in good Government Governance with integrity and honesty. A LEOPARD DOES NOT CHANGE ITS SPOTS !

    Malaysia Boleh Tun as always. No problem.

  7. Assalamualaikum, Tun.

    Secara telus dan tulus, tokoh-tokoh politik di Negara ini nampaknya giat berpolitik demi kedudukan dan kuasa. Bilakah wakil-wakil Rakyat turun ke padang untuk memahami keperluan Rakyat?

    Langkawi bukan sahaja sebuah tempat peranginan, tapi terkenal dengan makanan-makanan dan lauk-lauk yang cukup sedap. Apakah kerajaan pernah fikir tentang pembinaan pusat-pusat penjaja di destinasi pengumpulan pelancong-pelancong? Anak-anak Langkawi, daripada pelbagai kaum, ingin berniaga menjual makanan sedap mereka untuk menyarai hidup mereka.

    Di Langkawi, adanya Laksa Buyung, Satay dengan kuah yang sangat unik, Nasi Lemak .. tapi lihatlah Pantai Cenang dan Pantai Tengah, kat mana pelancong-pelancong boleh dapat?

  8. Economic doom.

    I agree with Tun.

    Small and medium size businesses account for two-thirds of the workforce, and the domestic workforce is the real base of most of the economy. If the two major international airports in Malaysia are not reopened, our thousands of tourist-dependent businesses will close doors and the country’s unemployment will sky-rocket. The government will be burdened immediately, and in the long-term future development of the country will be affected through fiscal deficits and high taxes.

    The Ministry of Health don’t understand economics but only about disease prevention and medicines. That’s ok as long as politicians don’t pay TOO MUCH attention to them. The real economy is at risk, and ultimately the majority of people’s livelihood and survival in the country.

    What the government needs to do now (it’s not too late) is to make a rational decision and RE-OPEN the country’s two major international airports (KLIA and KKIA), albeit with the highest safety standard. This alone will give tourism businesses a chance to recover gradually and save what we can of the ailing economy.

    The government needs to act FAST and the RIGHT WAY.

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