Laman Warisan Kampung Laut Phase 1 Completed
and Celebrating Successes of empower ECER Participants
KOTA BHARU, 12 JULY 2021: Development in Tok Bali will get a boost with plans underway to upgrade infrastructure in the area that would enhance its capacity to be a centre for regional trade growth. The Federal Government through the East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) and the Kelantan State Government are refocusing their
efforts which would be pivotal in spurring the socio-economic growth of the state.
These efforts include implementation of a transformation plan, which would see the Tok Bali Integrated Fisheries Park (TBIFP) being equipped further with facilities to support downstream activities. This will encourage participation of local Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the production of high value fish-based products.
Plans are afoot for the establishment of a commercial port in Tok Bali that will enhance growth of new economic sectors and boost the border economy in Kelantan. In addition,
PLANMalaysia will expedite its study on the impact of Tok Bali development to the economic development of the state’s borders.
Development of Tok Bali took centre stage at the 2nd ECER Implementation and Coordination Committee (ICC) meeting for the year which was chaired by Kelantan Menteri Besar YAB Dato’ Bentara Kanan Ustaz Dato’ Hj Ahmad Bin Yakob, who also complimented ECERDC for the timely completion of Phase 1 Kampung Laut Redevelopment Project despite the challenges faced due to the pandemic.
COMPLETION OF LAMAN WARISAN SERUNDING KAMPUNG LAUT
The Phase 1 of Kampung Laut Redevelopment Project, consisting of Laman Warisan Serunding Kampung Laut will be officially handed over to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and
Culture (MOTAC) in September this year. The complex is expected to be operational by October 2021 with 11 local serunding entrepreneurs, whose produce are synonymous with
the Kampung Laut’s history and heritage.
“The Kampung Laut development is set to become an iconic heritage tourism centre and a ‘must visit’ destination in Kelantan. The complex, which provides retail space for local
serunding entrepreneurs will boost tourism in Kampung Laut and provide spill-over benefit to locals. With the completion of Laman Warisan Kampung Laut, the famous serunding Kampung Laut now has an address,” said Encik Baidzawi Che Mat, Chief Executive Officer of ECERDC after the ICC Kelantan meeting which was held virtually.
Meanwhile, Phase 2 of the Kampung Laut redevelopment which includes the Laman Warisan Seni Kampung Laut is expected to be completed early next year. The complex will celebrate the local arts and culture of Kelantan and provide an avenue for local entrepreneurs to feature their work. Such developments help to spur socio-economic growth in surrounding areas.
Additionally, Phase 2 will also see the completion of the relocation and restoration works for the 300-year-old Masjid Kampung Laut. ECERDC and the Kelantan State Government had taken the initiative to relocate and restore the mosque to its original site in an effort to preserve the architectural, historical, cultural and social features attached to the original site in Kampung Laut.
INVESTMENT IN THE STATE
Despite travel restrictions of the pandemic hampering efforts to attract Foreign Direction Investment (FDI), Kelantan has managed to attract sizeable Domestic Direct Investment
(DDI), which augurs well for Kelantan’s socio-economic recovery.
In 2021, ECERDC successfully attracted RM600 million in investments, with a potential to create 1,836 new jobs and 660 new entrepreneurial opportunities in Kelantan. The biggest investment in the state this year is the installation of the largest floating solar plant in Southeast Asia, located in Danau Tok Uban, Kelantan.
“Kelantan is attracting DDI during the pandemic and this shows the confidence of local companies in the state’s competitiveness as an investment destination. ECERDC will continue working in close collaboration with state government agencies to attract more investments into Kelantan,” said Encik Baidzawi.
SUCCESS STORIES FROM HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT (HCD) PROGRAMMES
ECERDC has continued to carry out its HCD initiatives to help students improve their academic performance through empower ECER and provide skills-based programmes to the
B40 group to enhance their employability as well as ensure business continuity through entrepreneur ECER.
During the recent SPM result announcement, students from empower ECER programme in Kelantan recorded a 96% passing rate, higher than the national average of 89%. The
percentage of students obtaining 5As and above has also increased to 9% compared to 1% in 2019. A total of 1,997 SPM students participated in empower ECER programme in 2020.
Muhammad Adham Bin Ibrahim, the son of a settler from SMK Bandar Chiku 2, Gua Musang, who scored 1A, 4B, 2C, 2D before joining the programme mentioned that it never crossed his mind that he would score 8As in SPM 2020. He is thankful for the guidance received in the empower ECER programme.
Another student, Norhazrina binti Husaini who is a daughter of a rubber-tapper from SMK Kuala Balah, Jeli, who previously scored 5B, 3C, 1G before joining the empower ECER
programme managed to achieve 7As. She attributed her success to the dedication of the empower ECER programme and facilitators, who conducted online classes despite the
lockdown.
ECERDC is now facilitating efforts to ensure placement in institutions of higher learning or skills development for its empower ECER students, which will create a brighter future for them and their families.
In addition, since the outbreak of the pandemic, ECERDC, via empower ECER and entrepreneur ECER has also helped participants gain new skills and assisted entrepreneurs
to survive the new reality by providing trainings to help them switch to e-commerce platforms to keep their businesses afloat.
To help entrepreneurs sustain and strengthen their businesses, funding amounting to RM8.2 million from Agrobank and Maybank was disbursed to 558 entrepreneurs till June this year via entrepreneur ECER programme.
COMMENCEMENT OF empower ECER-ACES PILOT PROGRAMME
The empower ECER-ACES Pilot Programme involving 3,557 students across the ECER commenced recently to create awareness of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) among students and equip
talents in ECER with skills and knowledge to tackle the demands of the future.
A total of approximately 1,275 participants and 35 trainers across 10 locations in Kelantan namely Ketereh, Jeli, Bachok, Gua Musang, Pasir Puteh, Tanah Merah, Tumpat, Machang,
Kuala Krai and Pasir Mas are involved in the programme, which will take place over a period of 3 weeks until the end of July 2021.
CONCLUSION
“ECERDC will continue focusing on its key priorities in ensuring Tok Bali development is successfully implemented as Tok Bali is the catalyst for the next leap of economic growth in
Kelantan. Further, the timely completion of Kampung Laut Phase 1 and the upcoming completion of Phase 2 early next year, augur well for the socio-economic recovery for the state,” concluded En Baidzawi.