MAHA SITE TO BE PROPOSED AS INTERNATIONAL AGRO-TOURISM SITE

SERDANG (Malaysia), Dec 6 (Bernama) -- The agriculture and agro-based
industry ministry will propose to the Cabinet to turn the Malaysia Agriculture,
Horticulture and Agrotourism (Maha) exhibition site here into an international
agro-tourism site.

The minister, Noh Omar, said Maha, held at the Malaysia Agro
Exposition Park Serdang (Maeps), would be an attraction to both locals and
foreigners.

As Maha received good response from visitors, he said Prime Minister Najib
Tun Razak had asked the ministry to think of ways to turn the area
into a tourist attraction, at least on Saturdays and Sundays.

"I will submit a proposal to the Cabinet. Once approved, we will announce
the programmes to be carried out," he told reporters Sunday, after closing the
10-day Maha International 2010 which began last Friday.

Meanwhile, Noh said this year's Maha recorded the highest number of visitors
at 2.66 million, exceeding the target of 1.5 million. The figure was an increase
from 1.2 million in 2008.

He said sales also saw an increase from RM9.69 million (US$1=RM3.14) in 2008
to RM23.58 million this year.

-- BERNAMA