Deputy MB: Kelantan Doesn't Need Cinemas Because They Can Watch Netflix
"They can watch it all on Netflix. Why would they pay and sit for one or two hours [in a cinema] when they can watch movies at home while eating kuaci?"
By May Vin Ang — 01 Jul 2022, 11:39 AM
The absence of cinemas has never been an issue with Kelantan people, said state Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Abdullah
"Kelantan folk have never made noise over the issue of not having cinemas because they do not need cinemas to watch movies," said Amar in an interview with YouTube channel Feng Ren Guan on 29 June.
"They can watch it all on Netflix. Why would they pay and sit for one or two hours [in a cinema] when they can watch movies at home while eating kuaci?"
The interview stems from a heated debate after PAS Youth leader Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, who had opposed the prospect of reopening cinemas in Kelantan in the past, was spotted watching latest local film Mat Kilau: Kebangkitan Pahlawan in a cinema in Kuala Lumpur recently.
He also dismissed the possibility that Kelantan would explore revoking its ban by introducing cinemas with segregated seats for men and women, similar to what was done in Terengganu
Amar also said people are not interested in opening cinemas anymore because with digital advancement and streaming platforms, cinemas are going out of business.
"In Kuala Lumpur, many cinemas have already closed, like Coliseum and Federal, all closed. GSC also closed many of their cinemas," he said.
Amar added that Fadhli being spotted watching a movie was a sign that PAS does not stop people from consuming entertainment
"We can accept good films and entertainment that does not go against Syariah. This is why we have our entertainment enactment and rules," he told Feng Ren Guan.
"We do not simply restrict everything, we have guidelines. It's not an issue for the people of Kelantan, it only became an issue when Mat Kilau was screened."
He, however, repeated that the PAS government's stand is that cinemas are not suitable for the state.
