KAMPUNG SUNGAI MELAYU’S BID FOR UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE STATUS CONTINUES - KOTA ISKANDAR ASSEMBLYMAN

By Nur Fatin Mohmad Kadenen

ISKANDAR PUTERI, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- Efforts to secure Kampung Sungai Melayu’s inscription as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage Site will continue through discussions with Tourism Johor and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), said Kota Iskandar assemblyman Datuk Pandak Ahmad.

He said the matter would be brought before the two parties concerned soon, or by the end of the year.

Pandak said the move would position the village, known for its fisheries and panoramic mangrove forest, as a preferred eco-tourism destination globally.

“Efforts to have the village recognised by UNESCO will go through a series of processes and discussions on the matter will be held again with Tourism Johor and MOTAC,” he told Bernama after attending the Jalinan Mesra Media programme with the Social Security Organisation at Eco Tourism Kampung Sungai Melayu here today.

In 2015, Pandak, who was then Kampung Sungai Melayu’s village head, said the state government was working to gazette the village as a heritage site, enabling it to become a key tourism hub in Johor.

He said various studies were being conducted by different agencies and the results would be presented to MOTAC to seek UNESCO recognition.

Meanwhile, Pandak said plans are underway to establish a water taxi service linking Puteri Harbour and Kampung Sungai Melayu as early as next year, aiming to draw more visitors to experience the area’s unique charm.

He added that the two locations, just around eight kilometres apart, hold significant untapped potential.

“This service will not only attract tourists, but will also provide civil servants near Puteri Harbour, an area close to Kota Iskandar, the state administrative centre, with easier access to Kampung Sungai Melayu, where they can, for example, enjoy popular dishes like asam pedas at lunchtime,” he said.

He said discussions had been held with the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) to evaluate the proposed project’s suitability, with implementation targeted for next year.

Pandak said that in conjunction with Visit Johor Year 2026, he is targeting 10,000 tourists to visit the village in the first six months of next year.

Pandak said that since 2016, the fishing village has welcomed more than 100,000 foreign tourists, with the highest numbers coming from South Korea, China and Japan.

“We also plan to introduce various attractions in the village, including traditional water sports, cultural performances and treasure hunts along the river,” he said.

Pandak added that the number of tourist boat operators in the village would be increased to cater for 200 to 300 visitors at a time, up from around 60 currently.

“The village offers plenty of fun along the river and mangrove forests, from enjoying nature and spotting wildlife to crab catching and watching migratory birds between November and March,” he said.

Kampung Sungai Melayu is also renowned for its asam pedas eateries, which attract both local and international visitors.

--BERNAMA