Annuar: Putrajaya to be developed into recreational city
PUTRAJAYA: Putrajaya will be developed into an international recreational city, apart from being known as the country’s administrative centre, said Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa.
He said the ministry would hold discussions with the private sector and Putrajaya Corporation (PPj) to develop Putrajaya for the next 25 years, so that more activities and business opportunities would be created for traders and the community.
“I have asked PPj not only to make improvements to tourist attractions, but also to think of other attractions, including innovative tourism products, to attract more visitors,” he said after a walkabout in Anjung Floria here yesterday.
He said Anjung Floria in Presint 4, the former site of the Royal Putrajaya International Flower and Garden Festival (Floria), would be turned into a centre for recreational activities known as Pit-Stop@Anjung Floria.
“It will have sites for expos, sales, plant nurseries, a rickshaw village, bicycle and kayak rentals, cruises, boats, an artificial beach and cafes.
“These efforts can support the consolidation of Putrajaya as a tourist destination as well as a recreational city.”
He said the site, with its short distance to Putrajaya Lake and walking and cycling paths, as well as cruise routes, had been identified for development to attract visitors.
Anjung Floria, said Annuar, would be an attractive place with the backdrop of Putrajaya Lake, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque and Saujana Bridge.
He said Putrajaya was busy on weekdays, but became quiet in the evenings.
Economic opportunities must be created so visitors would stay longer in Putrajaya, which would encourage spending and open up opportunities for the community to generate income.
He said Putrajaya’s population was fewer than 100,000 and more effort was needed to attract people to live here.
“We must control the tourism industry because we don’t want the Putrajaya concept to be affected and become busy like other cities.
“Our goal is that Putrajaya must not only be an administrative centre, but must also be a sustainable city with its own style of living.”
He said cooperation between the state government and embassies could be implemented to create replicas or mini gardens.
He planted a raja kayu tree in conjunction with the One Million Trees Planting Campaign.
More than 100,000 trees will be planted under the campaign. Other trees include merbau, merawan, pulai, meranti and the golden chain tree, with goldenyellow flowers hanging from its branches synonymous with Putrajaya’s image.
Putrajaya, which is developed based on the City in the Garden concept, has more than 700,000 trees.