PEKAN: At the mere mention of Tasik Chini, many would have a negative image painted in their mind resulting from the long-standing environmental issues at the lake and Datuk Seri Sh Mohamed Puzi Sh Ali is well aware that he has a lot on his plate.
The Barisan Nasional (BN) Pekan parliamentary seat candidate is now looking forward to the challenge of turning around and bringing an end to the negative perception plaguing the Tasik Chini Biosphere Reserve site near here.
The former two-term Peramu Jaya assemblyman, who was nominated to contest the Pekan seat, said it is a matter of time before the lake area which was damaged by unregulated mining and land clearing activities returns to its glory days.
"The Pahang government has already laid out a recovery plan for Tasik Chini and we need the support from the Federal government. Once I am given the mandate in Pekan, I want to speak up about Tasik Chini in parliament as joint efforts will be able to speed up the recovery efforts at the lake.
"The main aim will be to put behind the dark episodes concerning the destruction at the lake resulting from mining activities. I will focus on transforming the lake into a popular tourist destination," he said after visiting the Permatang Keledang Orang Asli settlement near here.
Sh Puzi was picked to contest the Pekan parliament seat to replace Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who won the seat for the 10th term in the 14th General Election in 2018.
Najib was sentenced to 12 years' jail and fined RM210 million for misappropriating RM42 million SRC International funds, a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd.
Meanwhile, Sh Puzi said giving the lake a new lease of life will certainly attract visitors and turn the fortunes of the Orang Asli villagers, traditional villages and Felda settlements near the lake area.
Tasik Chini, measuring 6,922.97 ha, is the first Biosphere Reserve in Malaysia, recognised by Unesco under the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme on May 26, 2009.
In 2019, it was reported that Tasik Chini could lose the biosphere reserve status if no rehabilitation efforts were taken.
On Oct 4, Pahang Environment Committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsuddin said a detailed report on improvements made at the Tasik Chini has been submitted to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) in Paris and the government was confident that world body would not withdraw Tasik Chini's status as a biosphere reserve.
Meanwhile, on his selection to defend the Pekan parliament seat, Sh Puzi described it as nothing unusual as he had previously served as Najib's senior private secretary before he contested in Peramu Jaya in during the 13th general election.
"I used to be responsible for the planning and implementation of projects in Pekan. So we had a lot of plans for the constituency and now it is my responsibility to continue them...I am prepared for the challenges," he said, adding Najib has done a lot and has a huge reputation in the constituency.
In his speech earlier, Sh Puzi said he will be going to meet Najib either in Kajang prison or in court during the latter's trial next week, and hopes to share the good news about the election outcome in Pekan.
"It is important to register a huge win in the parliament and all the four state seat constituencies in Pakan as a gift for Najib. We all know that Pekan is always close to his heart and this win will assure him that the constituency is in good hands," he said.
Pekan is seeing a five-cornered fight between BN's Sh Mohamed Puzi, Naim Zainal Abidin (Pakatan Harapan), Perjuang's Datuk Mohammad Radhi Abdul Razak, Mohd Fadhil Noor Abdul Karim from Perikatan Nasional and independent candidate Tengku Datuk Zainul Hisyam Tengku Hussin.