M`SIA: PAHANG RIVER TO BE DEVELOPED INTO TOURIST ATTRACTION

KUANTAN (Malaysia), Nov 18 (Bernama) -- 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 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 Chief Minister 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 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.

Kuantan is the state capital of east coast Pahang, the largest state in
Peninsular Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA