The Pahang government will develop infrastructural facilities in selected areas along the Pahang River in a move to turn it into an important tourist attraction.
State Tourism, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Shafik Fauzan Sharif said the government was actively promoting the longest river in the Malaysian peninsula as a recreational, historical, heritage and eco-tourism destination.
“The formation of the River Management Committee in April, which is chaired by Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob and comprising representatives of the relevant agencies, will prepare the plans for monitoring, implementing and coordinating development along the river,” he said in reply to a question from Norol Azali Sulaiman (BN-Guai) regarding the river being a source of tourism activities, at the State Assembly sitting, here, Tuesday.
Shafik Fauzan said several long-term proposals had been made, including making river activities as part of the homestay package, promoting water sports as tourism events and developing infrastructure for the convenience of tourists.
The government would also restore and clean up the river through the yearly allocations, he said.
“We have also prepared a guideline and gazetted the river reserve to ensure no uncontrolled development in the area, especially along the river corridor.”
Shafik Fauzan said at the moment, various programmes to promote the 329km-long river as a tourism product were being carried out.
“Among the activities held in 2008 were the Sungai Pahang International Rafting Expedition in May and the Kayaking Expedition in August,” he said.