Window Seat

THERE’S an old saying that crisis equals opportunity - and that definitely appears to be the view of a Malaysian politician who has suggested that the country’s annual flood season could be used to promote “voluntourism”.

Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, former Minister for Tourism and Culture, has come under fire for the suggestion, which he made in an interview with local news channel Sinar Daily.

“Maybe we can have voluntary tourism where people come to the country to help us with the floods, and it is not about them coming here just to enjoy but for them to also learn,” he said.

Opposition politicians were quick to slam Nazri’s statement, with one saying it showed how “disconnected he was from reality” and another arguing the focus should be on resolving floods rather than showcasing them as a source of tourism.

They were particularly critical of a rebranding idea which saw Nazri suggest describing the usually catastrophic monsoons in Kuala Krai as a “flood festival”.