I refer to the Malaysiakini report Don't take it out on tourists, MBs tick off Azalina .

There appears to be a new twist to our tourism efforts. The new Tourism Minister has suggested it will terminate all MOUs signed with contractors and operators of tourism activities in states held by the Pakatan Rakyat: Kedah, Kelantan, Penang, Perak and Selangor.

So one wonders what happens to these events scheduled for the year?

• Penang World Music Festival

2 May 2008 Until 4 May 2008

24 May 2008 Until 27 May 2008

22 June 2008

17 June 2008 Until 22 June 2008

6 July 2008

19 July 2008 Until 20 July 2008

23 August 2008 Until 24 August 2008

1 November 2008 Until 8 November 2008

9 November 2008

8 November 2008 Until 9 November 2008

The minister, after her post-cabinet meeting, assured reporters, ‘Tourism activities in the five states will be run by ‘individuals’ appointed by the ministry. This was necessary because we fear the Pakatan Rakyat state governments might not accept the national tourism plan’.

If we find it so difficult to work with fellow Malaysians, how are we going to work with neighbouring countries?

Because TravelBiz Monitor.com in a recent article said the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is seriously considering joint promotion of their destinations with tourism boards of other neighbouring countries in the Asian market.

According to Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, there was ‘much enthusiasm’ among three important NTOs of the region – Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand – to evolve a joint promotion of their tourism products.

Maybe TAT should visit Malaysia and show us how...