MALAYSIA`S NORTHERN STATE PLEDGES COOPERATION IN DEVELOPING RAINFOREST MASTER PLAN

IPOH (Malaysia), Oct 22 (Bernama) -- The northern Perak state government
Thursday pledged its full cooperation to the Northern Corridor Implementation
Agency (NCIA) in spearheading development of the integrated master plan for the
Belum-Temengor rainforest.

The state's Chief Minister Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the state government
acknowledged the tremendous potential in the Belum-Temengor tropical rainforest
and the need to balance between preserving Perak's wildlife reserves and natural
areas while developing a solid eco-tourism industry that capitalised on the
rainforest's environmental resources.

"Wisdom must be exercised when weighing the benefits of development against
conservation needs of Belum-Temengor.

"We entrust you (NCIA) with the task of preparing a comprehensive integrated
master plan that guarantees its continued integrity and provides for innovative
check and balance mechanisms to successfully manage the fragile balance between
preservation, conservation and socially responsible development," he said when
closing the conference "Towards the Development of an Integrated Master Plan for
the Belum-Temengor Tropical Rainforest" here, Thursday. The Belum-Temengor
Tropical Rainforest
is located in the state of Perak.

Also present at the conference was NCIA Chief Executive Mohd Annuar Zaini.

Zambry said the state would give its closest attention to all the
recommendations contained in the integrated master plan.

"We look forward to NCIA delivering the master plan at the earliest
opportunity for us to properly facilitate implementation of its terms of
reference," he said.

Zambry said the state also concurred with the call by the Crown Prince of
Perak state Raja Dr Nazrin Shah at the opening of the conference Wednesday, to
encourage the local communities to be alert and not merely be bystanders to the
numerous possibilities that would economically benefit them when sustainable
development was brought into the Belum-Temengor.

"Avail yourselves to the employment opportunities that will arise, or even
explore entrepreneurial prospects that allow you to diversify your livelihood,
and give you the motivation to care for and protect natural resources within the
area," he said.

Zambry said the state also welcomed greater private sector participation in
eco-tourism commercial ventures that would bring in sustainable developments to
the area.

He said to this end, Perak realised that the essence of its role required
the provision of necessary infrastructure to enable and encourage potential
eco-tourism investors into Belum-Temengor.

He called on all government departments and officials to assist and extend
all cooperation to serve potential eco-tourism investors from the private
sector.

He said this was because any delay would inevitably reduce the positive
impact such development might have on economic growth within Belum-Temengor, and
correspondingly on the Gross Domestic Product of the state.
-- BERNAMA