Tourism depends on stability

Don’t destroy peace and harmony, youths told

RAUB: Youths, particularly students, have been urged not to destroy the peace and harmony in the country to ensure tourism money continues to flow.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said the billions of ringgit spent by foreign tourists had contributed much to the development in the country.

“However, if the peace and harmony of the country is disturbed due to actions by certain groups, tourist arrival would be affected and development projects hampered.

“Last year alone, some 24.7 million foreign tourists visited our country.

“They spent Rm1.1bil per week and their expenses had helped many local traders and businesses,” she said in her speech at SMK Shahbandar Hussain here yesterday.

Dr Ng also presented certificates of excellence and rewards to students who excelled in their PMR and SPM examinations last year.

She said students today have better access to education due to government efforts in improving the quality of education.

“The Government is never stingy when it comes to allocating money for the purpose of education development,” she added.

Dr Ng said if Malaysia was not able to maintain economic and political stability, the development of education might also be affected.

She said the Government had also provided RM100 for each student this year, aside from the billions of ringgit allocated for education every year.

“Despite that, there were still people who refused to appreciate the Government’s effort,” she said.

Dr Ng later presented a letter of approval for an additional allocation of RM375,000 for SMK Shahbandar Hussain’s upgrading works.