Big project awaiting approval
THE proposed Malaysia Tourism City (MTC) project which would feature the world’s first Hasbro water theme park in Kuala Linggi, Melaka is waiting for approval from the Economic Planning Unit (EPU).
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the project worth RM120mil should be scrutinised properly before it is finalised.
“The ministry has presented the project’s proposal to the EPU and they have already visited the site. That means there is a potential that the project will be developed there.
“We hope the EPU will approve the project soon,” she told reporters after paying a courtesy call on the Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Mohd Ali Rustam at his office in Ayer Keroh, Melaka recently.
The MTC project to be developed by Meridian Bhd comprises four main branches namely mass tourism, health tourism, education tourism and ecotourism on a 251ha land.
Among the components of the project is the Hasbro Theme Park, in which the international toy brand will have about 1,000 intellectual properties on-site such as Nerf, My Little Pony, Mr Potato Head, Play-Doh, Battleship, Monopoly, Elefun & Friend as well as Mousetrap.
The project is expected to generate RM5bil additional income to the country’s tourism sector.
Earlier, Nancy said various issues pertaining to tourism, culture, arts and heritage were discussed during the courtesy call.
“The ministry welcomes several views shared by Tun Mohd Ali in order to further develop the tourism sector in Melaka and they will be brought up at the ministerial level,” she said.
Heritage site protected
Meanwhile, the development of the Lenggong Geopark in Perak will not affect Lenggong Valley, a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Energy and Natural Resources minister Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said development of the park would actually complement and strengthen it, recognised as a world heritage site by Unesco in 2012.
He added that his team had submitted an application for RM4.3mil to the Finance Ministry under the 12th Malaysia Plan for development work such as preservation and conservation of all related things.
“We want to undertake a comprehensive development of the downstream and infrastructure so that the Lenggong Geopark gets recognition at the national level and also globally.
“I am confident that the schedule is perfect. I believe Lenggong will be recognised as a National Geopark by mid-2021 and globally as Lenggong Geopark by 2025,” he said at a press conference in Putra World Trade Centre recently.
Shamsul Anuar said for a start, a gallery would be built at a cost of RM2mil, while the gallery at Kota Tampan would be furnished with more information on the geology, archaeology, history and culture of Lenggong Valley.
He said the Lenggong Geopark was developed after the Kinta Geopark in Ipoh, and geoparks in Langkawi and Jerai in Kedah, and also the one in Perlis.
Earlier, in his speech, Shamsul Anuar said development of the geopark did not hinder activities involving natural resources such as mining and logging, but these needed to be closely monitored and controlled by the authorities.
“This development will also have an impact on the local economy involving goods or services offered by homestay, food and transport operators, tour guides and handicraft producers,” he added.