A TOTAL of five new jetties for kayaking and river cruise activities will be built along the Sungai Perai.
Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) mayor Datuk Azhar Arshad said the city council has set up a special task force for this project.
“The task force will oversee and initiate any development project along the Sungai Perai to beautify the river.
“The task force is still studying every detail of the project before finalising it. The estimated cost for the five new jetties is RM2 million.
“The five jetties will be built at different locations along Sungai Perai, starting from Seberang Jaya until Bagan Dalam.
“More information about this project will be announced soon. We are doing our best to realise this project,” Azhar told reporters when he accompanied Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow during a visit to the Peacock Echo Park, Taman Kimsar in Prai today.
Chow said the project was crucial to promoting Sungai Perai as a tourist attraction by upgrading the facilities along the river.
“It can also promote kayaking as a recreational activity for outdoor lovers.
“Through river cruise, passengers can enjoy the amazing view along the five kilometres of Sungai Perai.
“The river can be promoted as an ecotourism and agrotourism product of Penang and thus, promoting Seberang Perai as an ideal tourist attraction.
“I would like to praise MBSP for doing its best to promote agrotourism in Seberang Perai through various initiatives,” he said.
Chow and his delegation visited the Peacock Echo Park as part of his ‘Jelajah ❤️ Penang’ programme in Batu Kawan today.
He was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy, who is also the Prai assemblyman, Batu Kawan MP Kasthuriraani Patto and MBSP councillor David Marshel.
Chow and his team had so far visited nine parliamentary constituencies under the ‘Jelajah ❤️ Penang’ programme. The other eight parliamentary constituencies were Bukit Bendera, Tasek Gelugor, Kepala Batas, Permatang Pauh, Nibong Tebal, Balik Pulau, Bayan Baru and Bukit Mertajam.
It is learnt that the Peacock Echo Park is a collaboration project between Prai constituency service centre, MBSP and D. Parantpaman as the owner of the peacocks.
The RM300,000 project has been open to the public since December last year.
There are about 50 peacocks from nine species at the aviary.
Among the species are Indian metallic greenish-blue neck peacocks, the albino version of Indian peacocks and Javanese mix peacocks from Belgium, and Pied and Black Shoulder peacocks from Spain.
In another event under the ‘Jelajah ❤️ Penang’ programme in Batu Kawan parliamentary, Chow spent his time visiting the hawkers at the Seaview Kopitiam in Chai Leng Park under the Perai state constituency.
There, he engaged with the hawkers and community leaders as well as understood some of the issues they raised.
Chow told reporters that some local issues were brought up during his visit, ranging from traffic, lack of parking lots, the need to upgrade the Chai Leng Park Market, and the replacement of a culvert at a basketball court.
“This is an indication for me to allocate a certain amount of funds in the upcoming state’s budget to fulfil some of the issues that were raised.
“It is important for us to bring comfort to the local community by carrying out projects that benefit them,” he said.
Among those present were Dr Ramasamy, Kasthuriraani, Marshel and other community leaders.
Story by Riadz Akmal and Edmund Lee
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi and Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar
Video by Alissala Thian and Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis