IPOH: MENTERI Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said the new district of Bagan Datoh has been included under the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) development area.
He said this was in line with the state government’s effort to accelerate the socio-economic growth in the southern part of the state.
Zambry said a series of discussions with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Bagan Datoh member of parliament, was held on future projects and development in the state’s 12th district, especially after its inclusion in the Northern Corridor Economic Region.
“There are nine main projects in Bagan Datoh under the under the 11th Malaysia Plan, with a total cost of RM685.8 million.
“Among them are the upgrading works of the Simpang Empat-Bagan Datoh main road (RM106 million), the construction of the Bagan Datoh-Kampung Sejagop bridge (RM350 million), Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (RM110 million) and Bagan Datoh Sports Complex (RM31 million),” he said in reply to S. Kesavan (PKR-Hutan Melintang) at the state assembly sitting here yesterday.
Zambry said the state government had also set aside RM55 million for 39 projects in Bagan Datoh, including the establishment of Perak Heavy Industrial Park, Logistics Hub and Rungkup Waterfront City.
Zambry said the growth in Bagan Datoh would also be accelerated with the completion of the West Coast Expressway in 2019.
On July 26, NCIA chief executive officer Datuk Redza Rafiq said NCIA would take initiatives and start programmes to spur socio-economic development in the southern part of the state, which not only focused on physical development but also capital development.
Zambry said the state government was committed to turn the Pulau Sembilan State Park into one of the state’s major tourist attractions.
The menteri besar made the announcement on Pulau Sembilan during the Bagan Datoh Umno division delegates’ meeting on Saturday, after the request was made by Zahid, on behalf on his constituents.
It was made since the archipelago of nine islands were nearer to Bagan Datoh than Manjung district, where the tourist attraction was placed.
Pulau Sembilan, comprising Pulau Agas; Pulau Lalang; Pulau Saga; Pulau Nipis; Pulau Rumbia; Pulau Payong; Pulau Buluh; Pulau Batu Putih and Pulau Batu Hitam; is known as among the best location for scuba diving and snorkelling in the country.
He said Pulau Sembilan had a unique and tranquil environment and the
state government was determined to preserve its ecosystem and historical sites.