By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, Aug 16: The state government plans to turn Telaga Air into a sports fishing area which has the potential to attract more tourists for eco-tourism.
Following a visit to Telaga Air, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the waterfront at Telaga Air would be upgraded to accommodate eco-tourism and fishing enthusiasts.
“In our efforts to spur tourism activities as a sector that can attract eco-tourism, myself and a few Cabinet Ministers including Tourism Arts and Culture Minister (Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah) have come here to see how we can develop this place more effectively.
“I have the opportunity to be given a boat ride and witness the potential from the river mouth of Telaga Air until the end of Kampung Air.
“I have seen that there is enormous potential for sports fishing here. And also attract tourists to visit the Ramsar wetlands nearby as a tourism hot spot here,” he told reporters during a press conference after a visit to the Telaga Air waterfront near here today.
Abang Johari explained that his visit to Telaga Air was to obtain new inputs on the development of the waterfront at Telaga Air which is part of a resort city development at the Pantai Damai constituency.
As a result, he said the waterfront at Telaga Air will be upgraded with extension at both sides with a total length of 900 metres.
Abang Johari disclosed that the state government will also build a floating mosque which is located not far from Telaga Air to make the place more vibrant.
He added that three areas in Kuching namely Telaga Air, Pantai Damai and Lundu-Sematan will continue to be developed under the 12th Malaysia Plan (2020-2025).
He also disclosed that the development of Telaga Air is based on the rural growth centre (RGC) model.
For the management of Telaga Air, Abang Johari said the Padawan Municipal Council (PMC) has been tasked with the responsibilities.
Among those who accompanied Abang Johari during his visit to Telaga Air were Abdul Karim, Assistant Minister of Islamic Affairs and Kuching North City Commission Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi and PMC chairman Lo Khere Chiang. —DayakDaily
