Selangor hopes to draw in more tourists

MENTION Selangor and tourism, and fireflies may be the first thing to come to many people’s minds.

However, the state, with its lush tropical rainforest, infrastructure, facilities and scenic sights, offers a range of places to be visited.

Selangor, which is known mainly for its industrial economy, has a thriving tourism industry beneath its business hub.


The tourism industry is considered one of Selangor’s most important sources of income with 5.67mil tourists flocking to the state last year.

It also has strong growth potential with new theme parks, hotels and tourist spots in the works.

According to the Selangor Tourism Action Council (MTPN) executive chairman Datuk Subahan Kamal, the state was concentrating on educational, health and homestay tourism programmes.

He said with the many modern facilities, the tourism industry in the state could flourish to another level.

MTPN is moving aggressively towards making the programmers a success with help from the relevant stakeholders like hospitals, colleges and other interested individuals.


He pointed out that homestay programmes, for example, could be a potential source of income for many.

He said their target for this year’s tourist arrivals of 5.5mil was possible as the state had already attracted about 4.2mil tourists so far.

These statistics were based on data collected from five-star hotels only and did not include those who stayed at budget hotels, on campus or were here as medical tourists.

“It is booming even with the economic constraints but there is room for more growth as we have many undiscovered and untapped areas,” he said.

The MPTN, which comes under the purview of the Tourism Ministry, works hand-in-hand with the state government.

He said despite the political differences, the main aim was to boost tourism in the state to its fullest potential.

Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, RM29.9mil has been allocated for upgrading facilities, RM9.6mil for maintenance, RM2.5mil for homestay programmes and another RM8mil for economic stimulus projects.


For next year, MPTN is requesting RM60mil to continue its efforts.

Among the projects being carried out are the upgrading of Fraser’s Hill’s Gap Rest House and tourist facilities, the development of stalls and expo lots at Morib beach, upgrading Gunung Nuang Recreational Forest, development of state parks and recreational forests, upgrading homestay programmes in Sabak Bernam, Sungai Sireh, Gombak, Hulu Selangor and Air Manis as well as the Royal Sultan Abdul Aziz Gallery in Klang.

“We are also in discussions to turn part of the Selangor Sultan’s palace into a tourist site.

“A lot of people are intrigued by royalty, tradition and heritage, and we see this as a potential tourist attraction as well.

“It also a great way to showcase our history and rich tradition,” he said.

He said they were trying to get the Sultan’s permission for this purpose.

When asked about some of the present tourist sites that needed to be revamped, Subahan pointed out that the National Zoo was in dire straits.

He said the federal government should take over the zoo and revive it.

“Selangor has its own niche in terms of tourism, which is what it can sell.

“It cannot compete with the beaches of Tioman or Redang but it does have its unique qualities and is more for the family market,” he said.

Subahan said the reality was that Selangor was an industrial state but tourism was definitely a main player in the local economy.


Homestay at Kota Klias next year




Beaufort : Kg Kota Klias will become a hive of activity next year when enterprising residents start a homestay service in the village.

It was the Minister of Community Development and Consumer Affairs, Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun, who motivated the people to venture into the tourism industry.

She said this is a good opportunity for the village folks to raise their families' income.

"After all, Kota Klias is famous for its proboscis monkey and fireflies".

With homestay facilities, more tourists will be drawn to this village to live here and enjoy our local products such as food and traditional instruments.

"You need to think outside the box if you wish to succeed in life. Trying out homestay business is a chance to get out of the shackles of poverty," she told the community when officiating at the People-Friendly Programme here, recently.

On the same day, Azizah, who is Klias Assemblywoman, also launched the People-Friendly Programme and Family Well-being Education Class (PKK) at Kg Pintas Kubu.

The people were urged to revive their agricultural activity, especially orange cultivation.


KAMPUNG PUEH HOMESTAY SARAWAK


Introduction

Kampung Pueh Homestay Programme is Borneo's latest Eco-tourism destination introduced by Ministry of Urban Development and Tourism Sarawak.

The village offers visitors with an excellent opportunity to experience Bidayuh Salako exotic culture, warmth and friendly hospitality along with nature at its best.

Their houses are a mix of modern and traditional with indoor toilets. The villagers are warm, friendly, eager to share their lifestyle and stories with you.

How To Get There


The village is located some 100 km west of Kuching, at the foot of Mount Pueh. It takes about 90 minutes drive from Kuching City. The is located not far from Sematan bazaar.

Visitors can used their own transportation or public transport.

Attraction

Pueh Homestay Programme offers the following attractions:

* Salako unique lifestyle and its traditional longhouse
* Visit to Crab Breeding Farm
* Waterfall
* Gunung Gading National Park

Activities

* Learn about Bidayuh Salako Traditional Dance
* Visiting the longhouse and its surounding
* Watching the Rafflesia
* Jungle trekking to Gunung Gading and swimming at the waterfall
* Participate in sport such as football, badminton, and sepak takraw

Accomodation

Most houses are equipped with basic facilities with toilet & bathroom. Rooms are clean and fan is provided.

Facilities Provided


* Library
* Sundry Shop
* Multi-purpose Hall
* Bus stop
* Public phone
* Clinic

Contact Person

• Mr. Jehim anak Milos (+ 6013 827 4967)

DATUK MIRZA MOHAMMAD TAI YAB Tourism Malaysia director-general



DATUK Mirza Mohammad Taiyab says homestay programme is one way in which racial integration can be cultivated.

This, he says, is why such programmes should be expanded and further encouraged.

He says through such programmes, people will have an opportunity to stay with those from a different b ackground.

"All the races -- Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban, Melanau, Kadazan and Eurasian -- should open up their homes for such programmes."

He says what is most important is for avenues to be created for Malaysians of different races to "do things together".

"For example, we can learn each other's languages. If we are willing to learn French and German, why not our fellow Malaysians' mother tongues?"


A Rungus 1Malaysia homestay

Kota Kinabalu : Some 30 families in Sugut, Beluran, have initiated their own homestay programme by building a Rungus longhouse in line with the Government's call for people in rural areas to venture into tourism.

Led by the village's chairman of planning and implementation, Jakiy Tayan, they built the longhouse, believed to be first in Beluran, using their own resources.

Taking cue from the 1Malaysia concept, they named the village Kampung Malaysian. It was officially launched on Nov. 28 by Sugut Assemblyman Datuk Surady Kayong who was represented by PKR Rahman Atang.

Jakiy said as a cost-saving measure, they used materials obtained from the jungle to build the longhouse as authentic as possible. Stretching on a 30-acre site, he said, woven Nipah leaves were used as roofing and round timber for its structure.

However, due to the difficulty in obtaining Nibung timber, they had to use planks bought from the local hardware store for the middle "tingkang" floor. The "raised" floor on the each side of the longhouse were built using bamboo.

"It is 80 per cent completed and we are in the midst of constructing the rooms," he said. For a start, they would be building 15 rooms and is in the process of adding another 10 spaces.

The former Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) Chairman said he sponsored nails and diesel to ease the participants' burden.

"The villagers were so enthusiastic about the homestay programme that they pooled their resources to send a young man from the village to study English at the Advanced Management College (AMC) in Karamunsing," he said.

Jakiy said they hope to complete the longhouse by March next year so that people could start visiting the premise.

"We will be showcasing various tourism products, in particular from the Rungus tribe, such as our culture, handicraft skills in weaving and beads-making and daily normal lives of the people," he said.

In addition, visitors would have the opportunity to witness traditional harvesting of honey if they visit the longhouse in September.

Jakiy said because most Rungus have nowadays embraced modern lifestyle, the previous way of life was almost "extinct".

So, to let the visitors have a feel of the situation then, he said they have prepared a special programme for the visitors.

To officially launch the homestay programme, they plan to invite State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun.

"We also hope the Government would render us some assistance especially to build a bathroom facility for visitors," he said.

At the same time, he said they hope the relevant authority would speed up the gazetting of the village so that the villagers could commence on their income-generating activities.

He also said they hope to link the homestay programme with the Tourism Ministry for it to be better promoted. Also planned is a website so they could "sell" the programme to a wider audience.

Jaiky said the longhouse would be slightly different compared to other homestay programmes because prayer houses and burial grounds from each of the major religions would be constructed for the convenience of the participants and visitors.

They would also be preparing a site for the construction of relevant government departments or agencies to build their office there.


Karpal fails in his bid to discredit a feisty Dr Ng

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Friday December 4, 2009
Karpal fails in his bid to discredit a feisty Dr Ng
Reports by LEE YUK PENG, TEH ENG HOCK and YUEN MEIKENG

A feisty Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen warded off the efforts of Karpal Singh (DAP – Bukit Gelu-gor) to discredit her when he questioned whether she had been a permanent resident of any other country.

Dr Ng was elaborating on the progress of the homestay programme for the Tourism Ministry at the committee stage of the Budget when Karpal asked where her home was and if she was a permanent resident in any other country, to which she replied no.

He proceeded by asking her if she held permanent resident status in the past, to which she replied that she did between 1990 and 1993, but added that she currently did not hold such status.

The Dewan Rakyat grew noisier with incessant chatter causing confusion apparently with the words “home” and bohong (lie).

“Retract saying I lied!” a furious Dr Ng said as she pointed her index finger at Karpal, leading him to deny that he said she had lied.

“You said I lied! If you dare, admit it that you said I lied and retract your words,” she said.

“Speaker, the minister is a gangster,” Karpal told Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

“To deal with you, it needs a gangster!” Dr Ng hit back.

Dr Wan Junaidi then intervened to calm down the situation, but barely five minutes later, Nga Kor Ming (DAP – Taiping) stood up with another provocative question.

“To the minister, who is beautiful but fierce like a gangster...” he said, and was greeted by objections from the Barisan Nasional backbenchers.

“This had been admitted by the minister herself. It did not come from me. Why are you all making so much noise?” said Nga.

He then proceeded to ask her if it was necessary for her to go “vacationing” overseas every month with her husband when Malaysia was keen to have its own tourism product and not copy those of other countries.

“My husband rarely follows me overseas. And I go out to promote (the country), not for a vacation. Retract that (allegation),” she said. No retraction was made by either Karpal or Nga.

Homestay Bukit Gantang

Taiping, PERAK

Background
Based on oral sources, Bukit Gantang get the name because the village is surrounded by hills bukau.seolah if the village is located in a shà raksasa.Selain that according to those old stories past on the hill has also been found in the tool in gantang. Tool call this the use to measure rice or rice.

Village-like atmosphere definitely feels.
According to history, in the past Bukit Gantang also popular as a tin mining. Initially a young man called Long Jaafar has worked to go to Singapore. However, he returned back to Parapat not successful because people in the region. One day, an elephant named Larut peliharaannya escape fled into the forest. When found, these elephants are being covered with mud and filled his body with mud rich ore of tin. Starting from that is where there is prospects of tin by Long Jaafar has been developed to bring in Chinese miners from Penang. He also founded City of Long Jaafar as the administrative center of business and shelter until he died on May 24, 1858 and buried in the city concerned.

Although Bukit Gantang was developed 150 years ago, practically in the traditional way of life everyday, real home, culture and hospitality to the people still retained now. Between source of income is the main population Bukit Gantang breeding (Fish, Chicken, Deer, Goat, breeding children lobster), Agriculture (Pink, Sugar Cane, Dragon Fruit, Durian, bung-flowers), Small Medium Industries (snacks like banana chips, cakes oysters, snails cake). Bukit Gantang also known as one of the villages producing seasonal fruits, especially King fruit of the best durian in Perak. Season fruits are major in July ~ Ogos. Total population in Bukit Gantang about 1.595 people, 319 houses. 95% of the population are Malays, Chinese and Indian Muslim rest

Bukit Gantang Homestay Program was officially opened on May 14, 2005 by Tun Dato 'Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Up to now, there are 29 houses have joined the Homestay Program and offer various packages with attractive rooms and an atmosphere of comfortable, everyday way of life, culture (clothing traditional common, marriage mock), traditional games (presumptuous, Seremban and top), making traditional food (banana chips, cakes snails and oysters), visit historic ketempat (tomb Long Jaafar), bathing in natural hot pools, agricultural activities (feel the fruit and guided tours to farm fruits) and visit to nearby towns (Taiping Bandar Warisan Kuala Kangsar or the Royal City)

Location
Bukit Gantang Homestay is located in Mukim Bukit Gantang in the area Larut, Matang and Selama.Perjalanan from Bukit Gantang to Taiping Town which is about as far as 13km in 20 minutes and from Bukit Gantang to the extent of Kuala Kangsar is 25km which is about 30 minutes.

From the North South Expressway, exit through Toll Changkat Jering, the first signal light, turn left, second traffic lights turn right. Continue to drive approximately 5km to the front and you'll get to stop at landmarks Bukit Gantang replicas of fruits. Office is near Bukit Gantang Homestay Coordinator.

If exit from Toll From Kuala Kangsar, the 15km toward Taiping you will reach here.

Address
Homestay Bukit Gantang, Taiping, Perak.
Office Admin : Bukit Gantang Homestay, Jalan Kuala Kangsar, Changkat Jering, 34850 Taiping, Perak.

Tel        : 019-5740767 / 05-8554967
Fax       : 05-8553177
Email   : ppik_bktgtg@yahoo.com


Homestay Teluk Bahang



Teluk Bahang is in the north western tip of Penang Island. It boasts the finest stretch of beach in Penang Island. It lies about 5 kilometers after Batu Feringghi, the prominent tourist’s belt of Penang. The name teluk Bahang means the “Bay of The Wave” probably refers to the warm climate due to the sea breeze coming in shore. Apart from the beach, Teluk Bahang also offers an array of attractions like no other. Homestay visitors in Teluk Bahang will have the chance to explore the mother nature that surrounding in that area such as : Penang National Park-the smallest national park in the world, Tropical Fruit Farm-covering 25 acres located on the hilly terrains of Teluk Bahang, Penang Butterfly Farm – the first tropical butterfly farm in the tropical world that showcases about 4000 Malaysian butterflies of 120 various species in their natural habitat, The “Batik” Factory-try your hands in creating a piece as a souvenir back home. A homestay at Teluk Bahang will certainly grant an experience that’s extra cordially captivating.

Teluk Bahang is located about 5km after Batu Feringhi on the North Western tip of Penang Island. Tourist can be reaching there from George Town using Teksi, Rapid Penang Buses-U101 or rent a car. The journey will be 45 minutes from the heritage city-George Town.

Homestay Teluk Bahang
No. 583, Mukim 2, Teluk Bahang Penang,11050 Teluk Bahang, Pulau Pinang.

Tel       : +6019-4124729
Email  : azizhomestay@yahoo.com

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