Melaka to develop 12 islands for eco-tourism

MELAKA: The Melaka government wants to develop 12 islands in the state as its latest eco-tourism product, in an effort to add to the existing tourism attractions in the future.

State Agriculture, Agro-based, Entrepreneur Development and Co-operative Committee chairman Norhizam Hassan Baktee said the effort includes gazetting the islands as marine parks to preserve the sustainability of the national fishing industry in line with the development challenges.

Among the 12 islands are Pulau Undan, Pulau Besar, Pulau Hantu, Pulau Serimbun, Pulau Lalang, Pulau Dodol, Pulau Nangka, Pulau Upeh and Pulau Hanyut.

“I will discuss this matter with the state Tourism, Heritage and Culture Committee chairman Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis. The Fisheries Department have presented their proposals to me to gazette the waters of Pulau Undan as a marine park.

“With the development of the islands, we believe we can generate revenue for the state and the people especially the fishermen community, eco-tourism industry players and boat services providers,” he told reporters after a Programme With The Stakeholders (fishermen): “Reef And Beach Clean Up’ in the waters of Pulau Undan here yesterday.

Elaborating, Norhizam said every island in the state has its own uniqueness, such as being surrounded by rich coral reefs and clear water, which will attract more tourists, and becomes a hub to boost fishery products in the waters of Malacca.

In another development, he said Melaka has received a RM50,000 allocation from the federal government to install cages to capture wild monkeys and wild boars, which have become threats to the people in the state lately.

“The cages will be handed over to the State Assembly Development and Coordination Committee (Japerun) involved, In addition, the state Wildlife and National Parks Department will also carry out activities to shoot wild boars including on Pulau Besar,” he said.

Recently, it was reported that Pulau Besar has witnessed widespread damage from the migration of dozens of wild boars from Indonesia. - Bernama