TUMPAT, KELANTAN, 15 OCTOBER 2021: Deputy Minister of Finance I, YB Tuan Mohd Shahar Abdullah led a delegation to visit Laman Warisan Serunding Kampung Laut as part of Jelajah Belanjawan 2022 programme, today.
Deputy Finance Minister I visited Laman Warisan Serunding Kampung Laut which is part of the Kampung Laut redevelopment project implemented by the East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC). This project will make Kampung Laut, located in the district of Tumpat, an iconic heritage tourism centre and a ‘must visit’ destination in Kelantan.
Accompanying him on the working visit were YB Dato’ Haji Che Abdullah Bin Mat Nawi, Member of Parliament for Tumpat, En. Wan Mohd Nasir Bin Wan Omar, Tumpat District Deputy Chief, En. Mohd Aidil Afizie Bin Abdul Latif, Director of Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) Office in Kelantan, and Pn. Yusmurni Md Yusoff, Senior Manager, Corporate Strategic Planning, ECERDC.
“The completion of Laman Warisan Serunding Kampung Laut is timely, with the recent announcement of the lift of interstate travel restriction. The closure of state borders for almost a year had severely affected the tourism sector. I am pleased that ECERDC had the foresight to continue implementing projects as planned even during the pandemic as this will ensure that the momentum of economic development in the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) is not disrupted and will continue to create new jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for the local community,” said YB Tuan Mohd Shahar.
Laman Warisan Serunding Kampung Laut complex has 11 retail spaces for entrepreneurs to sell traditional delicacies such as the famous Kampung Laut serunding. Apart from that, the Kampung Laut redevelopment project also comprises the Laman Warisan Seni Kampung Laut which will provide opportunity for local entrepreneurs to display their arts and crafts. Laman Warisan Seni, which is expected to be complete early next year, will provide retail space for 12 entrepreneurs to sell local products such as batik, wau and crafts.
The Kampung Laut redevelopment project not only aims to stimulate the local economy through tourism activities but also encourage locals to resume economic activities which were affected by the pandemic to help regenerate socio-economic growth in the surrounding areas.
“What is special about this project is that it is a sustainable development that also celebrates and preserves the culture, heritage and traditions of local villages. Kampung Laut will be a living museum where the local community will have the opportunity to generate income through cultural activities such as wayang kulit and kite-flying events, and this will help rekindle the interest of young people in such cultural activities,” said the General Manager of ECERDC’s Kelantan Regional Office, Dato’ Wan Mohd Hasnan.
“No less important is the relocation of the oldest mosque in Malaysia that is still in use, Masjid Kampung Laut, from Nilam Puri to its original place in Kampung Laut, which is also one of the components of this project, from Nilam Puri to its original place in Kampung Laut. The relocation of the more than 300-year-old mosque will preserve the historical, cultural and architectural values of the mosque, as well as create a cultural heritage landmark in Kelantan,” added Dato’ Wan Mohd Hasnan.
For long-term planning, Masjid Kampung Laut and the development of Kampung Laut as a heritage village have been nominated as national heritage object and site and will subsequently be recognised as world heritage site under UNESCO.
Coming up, the construction of the Palekbang Bridge and Kota Bharu Promenade will complement the Laman Warisan Kampung Laut as an integrated tourism-based development in Kelantan, which will ensure continued economic growth in the areas nearby.
“The Federal Government always emphasises on development that will bring long-term benefits to the people and will consider the possibility of implementing projects that are able to strengthen and complement the tourism attractions in the state, thus improving the local economy in the future,” added YB Tuan Mohd Shahar.
Apart from the Palekbang Bridge, other major projects in Kelantan are the East Coast Highway 3 (LPT3), Central Spine Road (CSR) including the Kota Bharu-Kuala Krai highway, the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport upgrade project in Pengkalan Chepa and works to upgrade the road from Pasir Puteh to Jeli. These projects are not only expected to enhance connectivity between Kelantan and the rest of the country, but will also trigger economic spill-overs in the surrounding areas.
Another project that is being developed is Pasar Terapung Pulau Suri. This project is expected to attract more tourists to the floating market. The scope of the project includes the construction of market platforms and jetty, indoor food court and other public infrastructure works.