VISIT Malaysia Year 2020 (VMY2020) is just about nine months away before it actually kicks off and yet, we are still indecisive about choosing the right and suitable animation character that can truly symbolise the country's identity, culture and of course, language.
90's kids like me who used to ardently love Doraemon as our favourite cartoon know that Doraemon doesn't actually speak Malay and has no knowledge of Malaysian cultures.
Doraemon doesn't eat roti canai, nasi lemak and even Young Tau Fu. It, instead, eats Dorayaki.
For those who have no idea about what the Doraemon is— it's a blue cat with its rounded head and also has a magical pocket that could fulfil its friends' bizarre wishes.
It comes from Japan and its native language is Japanese.
The 'imported cartoons' like Doraemon and Hagemaru can't even be made an ambassador and corroborated to promote the country even they are cute and laughable.
The Visit Malaysia 2020 must be seriously organised with respectable efforts that can help the country to boost its ecotourism that might be detrimental as we face the recent economic downturn.
The selection of theme, logo and even mascot is important in promoting the country's image as a tourism country as they are the "first impressions" in the eyes of tourists.
Like hosting the football's World Cup, besides knowing the host's "great places to go", the mascot and logo are the first things visitors and fans want to see.
I believe that there are still big numbers of foreign tourists who are interested to be travelling to Malaysia, especially those who have never been here, an Asian country that is now prime ministered by a 93-year-old politician who wished to "save Malaysia".
It's enough for us to be unpleasantly known as a politically-controversial country by the globe.
We need to reiterate the "negative beliefs" thrown against us by orchestrating tourism agendas like VMY2020 with valuable promotions that can persuasively attract more global tourists to experience the uniquenesses that we mutually share as a multiracial nation.
If Japanese are proud of their Doraemon and maybe Hagemaru, we are also glad to have Upin and Ipin, the twins that portray the values of being a Malaysian.
Unlike Doraemon whose voice is inimitable, Upin and Ipin show us the spirit of Malaysian unity through a friendship with their Chinese and Indian friends.
We need animations with cultural values like Upin and Ipin to be the so-called ambassador in elevating Malaysia as a decently-cultured land to visit.
Its newly-hailed film, Upin and Ipin: Keris Siamang Tunggal that unexpectedly hit the cinemas, proves that the animation is hugely applauded and loved by racially-diverse Malaysians.
Besides remaking the VMY2020's logo which had been critically detested during the BN's era, I hope that the government via the Ministry of Culture and Tourism will consider choosing Upin and Ipin as the mascot for the Visit Malaysia 2020.
* Amerul Azry Abdul Aziz is an independent writer who now views politics as something that can be researched.
** The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of Astro AWANI.
Amerul Azry Abdul Aziz
Thu Apr 25 2019
If Japanese are proud of their Doraemon and maybe Hagemaru, we are also glad to have Upin and Ipin, the twins that portray the values of being a Malaysian.
AWANI Ringkas: Dijangka diniagakan sekitar RM4.77 berbanding dolar AS
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Pelajar maut motosikal bertembung kereta
Seorang pelajar maut selepas motosikal yang ditunggangnya bertembung dengan sebuah kereta dalam kejadian di Marang.
Cef ternama Singapura, Tariq Helou meninggal dunia pada usia 29 tahun
Pemergian cef Helou mengejutkan seluruh komuniti kulinari di Singapura.
EPL: Man United sama hebat dengan skuad tercorot liga
Penjaga gol Manchester United, Andre Onana menjadi punca buat pasukannya kehilangan kemenangan menentang Burnley.
Pedofilia MRSM Tumpat: Polis selesai panggil 14 individu
Polis selesai memanggil 14 individu untuk dirakam keterangan berhubung kes pedofilia melibatkan seorang guru di Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) di Tumpat.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Pengundi tentukan kemenangan, bukan Tun M - Azmin
Kemenangan DAP dalam PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu hanya akan ditentukan oleh pengundi dan bukannya bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Calon PN sah miliki Sarjana Eksekutif UMPSA
Calon Perikatan Nasional (PN), Khairul Azhari Saut, 54, disahkan memiliki Sarjana Eksekutif Pengurusan Perniagaan dari Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA).
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Calon PN tunjuk bukti kelayakan akademik
Calon Perikatan Nasional (PN) bagi Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Kuala Kubu Baharu, Khairul Azhari Saut menunjukkan bukti berkaitan kelayakan akademiknya bagi menjawab isu berkenaan.
Enakmen kawalan hiburan baharu, Kelantan yakin tidak bercanggah
Kerajaan Kelantan yakin proses penggubalan Enakmen Kawalan Hiburan baharu Kelantan yang akan dibentang pada sidang Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) selepas ini tidak bercanggah dengan aturan sedia ada.
Misi teroka peluang ekonomi, tarik pelaburan baharu di WEF - PM
Delegasi Malaysia akan berkongsi dasar dan hala tuju negara di samping mempertegas pendirian negara dalam isu geopolitik serantau di hadapan pemimpin dunia.