PAHANG SULTAN PROPOSES KG DESA KAYANGAN BE DEVELOPED INTO TOURIST ATTRACTION

CAMERON HIGHLANDS, March 14 (Bernama) -- The Sultan Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has proposed that Kampung Desa Kayangan in Brinchang near here be developed into a Malay village that attracts tourists.

The ruler said the state government will study what attractions the village has including cultural centres and places serving Malay and Orang Asli food.

"We (state government) will study it first...it is a proposal that we can consider and implement in the future," said Al-Sultan Abdullah, who met with reporters and was asked about his desire to see the village become a Malay village that can be visited by foreign tourists.

"What is more important is the well-being here first, to see in terms of infrastructure, good roads, electricity, water, all the comforts here, that is the priority first." 

Al-Sultan Abdullah said this when visiting residents' homes during the Home Improvement briefing by the Pahang Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MUIP) and Pahang Housing and Real Estate Board (LPHP) as well as the Kayangan Village Infrastructure Development briefing here today.

Also present at the event were Pahang Chief Minister Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, Cameron Highlands member of parliament Datuk Dr Ramli Mohd and Cameron Highlands district officer Kamarul Iskandar Nordin.

Regarding the ruler's observations in the village so far, Al-Sultan Abdullah stated that he is still not satisfied as many buildings or houses are not yet fully completed, and the roads are not fully paved. However, he understands that this is an ongoing process that takes time.

Meanwhile, Al-Sultan Abdullah said he and Wan Rosdy will review the proposal made by the Cameron Highlands Development Corporation (PKCH) to divide the land lots in Kampung Desa Kayangan among the residents there.

"We want to 'legalise' the residents living on this land, but as I mentioned earlier, I hope they continue to take care of this area as best as possible, maintaining cleanliness and preserving the beauty of the village.

"I want this to become a housing estate that can be emulated, a housing area for the Malays and Orang Asli here," he also said.

Earlier, Kamarul Iskandar, in his briefing, said that the settlement covering an area of 19.15 acres (7.74973 hectares) was registered on Jan 13, 2021, under the name of the Pahang State Secretary Incorporated (PSK), which has been leased to PKCH.

He said that the PKCH would then grant small leases to the residents and so far, the population there is 320 people.

At the same time, he said there were 100 lots in the village, with 72 of them numbered house lots, nine lots under construction, 18 vacant lots with no buildings yet erected and one mosque site.

Meanwhile, Al-Sultan Abdullah decreed that a study will also be conducted to establish a shuttle bus service from the Bharat Tea factory to Kea Farm here.

"So that it is easier for people, they do not have to bring their cars, they can leave their cars there (at the station). You can just take the bus if you're a tourist, it reduces congestion," the ruler added.

--BERNAMA