KOTA BHARU, 14 SEPTEMBER 2020: East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) is undertaking a heritage conservation project to restore the 400-year old Masjid Kampung Laut and relocate it to its original site. This is an effort to preserve the historical, cultural and architectural features of the mosque and create a heritage landmark in Kelantan.
Masjid Kampung Laut is one of the oldest mosques in the country which still serves its primary role as a place of worship. The timber mosque is built without nails and is a key attraction in Kelantan, drawing tourists, researchers and architectural students. Built in the 18th century, the mosque has survived two great floods, the first in 1926 and another in 1966, before it was moved to its current location in Nilam Puri from Kampung Laut, Tumpat.
“Masjid Kampung Laut is regarded as one of the most important historical buildings in the country. We do not construct buildings like these anymore and they need to be preserved for our future generations. It is an honour and a privilege for us at ECERDC to work alongside the Kelantan State Government, Department of National Heritage, National Archives of Malaysia, Kelantan State Museum and Universiti Malaysia Kelantan’s Architecture Department to carry out preservation works on this mosque that carries a rich historical legacy and remains a valuable asset for the people of Kelantan,” said Encik Baidzawi Che Mat, Chief Executive Officer of ECERDC at the ‘doa selamat’ event held to mark the historical relocation of the mosque after the ECER Implementation and Coordination Committee (ICC) Kelantan.
Following the ICC meeting held earlier today, Kelantan Menteri Besar, YAB Dato’ Bentara Kanan Haji Ahmad bin Yakob together with the ICC members performed Zuhur prayer at the mosque before relocation works begin. The mosque will later be disassembled, restored and reassembled at its original location in Kampung Laut, Tumpat. The heritage conservation project is expected to be completed by January 2022.
In addition to the relocation, ECERDC will also be developing two new commercial complexes adjacent to the mosque, namely Laman Warisan and Laman Seni, to attract and cater to the needs of tourists at the site. The complexes will feature spaces for local SMEs to feature local traditional delicacies, crafts and souvenirs to the visiting public and will be featured as a ‘must visit’ destination in Kota Bharu, Kelantan.
“In line with ECER Master Plan 2.0 (EMP2.0), ECERDC will continue to develop the tourism sector in Kelantan, which is an important economic driver in ECER. We will actively ‘create’ destinations, like the Masjid Kampung Laut heritage site, to increase tourist arrivals to Kelantan. As part of ECERDC’s overall strategy to strengthen Kelantan’s tourism sector, we will also be developing other attractions along the Kelantan River, such as Kampung Sungai Budur, Kota Bharu promenade, and upgrading works at the Pulau Suri floating market. These efforts will not only attract tourists, it will inevitably help to improve the livelihood of the people in the State through job creation and entrepreneurship opportunities,” said Encik Baidzawi.
Other Development in Kelantan
ECERDC alongside the State Government has implemented various high impact projects and human capital development programmes to transform the State’s socio-economy and uplift the livelihood of the Rakyat in Kelantan.
Another key development in Kelantan is the Plaza IMT-GT commercial complex in Bukit Bunga. Plaza IMT-GT’s strategic location, bordering Southern Thailand and its close proximity to the Bukit Bunga CIQ, makes it a strategic Cross-Border Gateway for local and cross-border trade, tourism and commercial industrial development. The development, which was completed early this year, will provide close to 100 local entrepreneurs with the opportunity to promote and market their products, including to foreign buyers from neighbouring Thailand.
Kelantan will also stand to benefit from the five (5) key projects under the 11th Malaysian Plan worth RM1.4 billion. The projects are the East Coast Highway 3 (LPT3), Central Spine Road (CSR) including the Kota Bharu – Kuala Krai highway, extension and upgrading works of the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Pengkalan Chepa, Pasir Puteh to Jeli road upgrading works and the Palekbang bridge. These projects are expected to not only improve connectivity between Kelantan and the rest of the country, but would also trigger further economic spill overs in areas along their paths.
“Thailand is now aggressively developing Southern Thailand and promoting industrial areas in Pattani, Narathiwat, Satun and Yala to investors. Given the rapid development in Southern Thailand, the implementation of infrastructure projects like LPT3, Central Spine Road, Jambatan Palekbang as well as the availability of utilities in Kelantan is critical for the state to remain ahead of the competition.”
“We look forward to witness Kelantan’s transformation into a bustling investment destination in the Region. Together with the Kelantan State Government, ECERDC remains committed to drive the socio-economic development momentum and support Kelantan’s transformation into a bustling investment destination in the Region to benefit the rakyat as a whole,” concluded Encik Baidzawi.
About ECER and ECERDC
The East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) is a statutory body established to spearhead the execution and implementation of the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) Master Plan. ECERDC plays a lead role in setting the directions, policies and strategies for the socio-economic development of ECER by promoting and facilitating investments into the Region.
ECER, which covers the states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and the district of Mersing in Johor, is a rapidly transforming region that is steadily positioning itself as a distinctive, dynamic and competitive destination for investments.
Geographically, it covers a total area of over 66,000 sq km or 51% of Peninsular Malaysia. It is home to some 4.8 million people, or about 15% of the total national population. The economic growth in the Region is driven by five key economic clusters, namely Tourism, Oil, Gas & Petrochemical, Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Human Capital and Entrepreneurship Development. These clusters are supported by developments in Transportation, Infrastructure, Property and Environment to make the Region an ideal destination for business, investments and quality living.
For media inquiries, kindly contact:
Tengku Mazlinda Tengku Mahmood Manager, Media Relations
East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC)
Tel: 03-2035 0182 / 010-408 1085 email: mazlinda@ecerdc.com.my