Muhyiddin: Malaysia Should Develop Its Very Own 'Gold Souk'

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 (Bernama) -- Malaysia should develop its very own 'Gold Souk', an area similar to Dubai's Gold Souk, to boost its tourism industry and make the country a shopping heaven, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. He said such an area would help to promote, as well as attract local and international shoppers, to purchase and appreciate local jewellery and the precious stone industry. Muhyiddin said, by simply leveraging off established assets such as Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), The Mall and Seri Pacific Hotel as well as nearby heritage buildings, new consumer and business-driven concepts could be developed to become another major attraction in the country.

"By way of personal observation, on my way to this hotel, I noticed that there is tremendous potential to unlock and build on the value of this area. "Concepts that come to mind is (include) the development of Malaysia's very own Gold Souk, an area similar to the Gold Souk in Dubai," he said when launching the re-branding of the Seri Pacific Hotel and 1Malaysia Seri Pacific charity drive here Tuesday. Dubai Gold Souk or Gold Souk is a traditional market in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is located in the heart of Dubai's commercial business district in Deira, in the locality of Al Dhagaya. The souk consists of over 300 retailers trading almost exclusively in jewellery. Muhyiddin said that every initiative, no matter how big or small, was vital to spur the growth of the tourism industry as it had been included in the list of 12 sectors identified as National Key Economic Activities (NKEA) under the 10th Malaysia Plan.

He said, another possible concept would include providing for the international businesses, organisations, chamber of commerce, as well as international trade representatives, an area within or adjacent to PWTC to cross-promote their products and services. "However, to realise these developments, key issues which are always emphasised by the government such as the cleanliness of the river, pedestrian-friendly logistics, as well as maintenance and modernisation of current buildings, have to be implemented more seriously," he said.

The deputy prime minister said that in the context of the meetings, incentives, conference and exhibitions or MICE industry under the 10th Malaysia Plan and the complementary New Economic Model, all Malaysians must work harder to attract a higher number of international MICE activities to come here. He said all players in the MICE industry must work closely as a team to bring in more international level conferences and exhibitions, adding that Malaysia had infrastructure, facilities and advantages that could be shared. "The government has already set up the Malaysian Convention Bureau, so facilities like Seri Pacific Hotel and PWTC are ideal and strategic, possessing dynamic synergy and were positive collaboration to help in the long-term business situation," he added.

Muhyiddin said that the tourism industry was expected to contribute RM115 billion to the gross domestic product (GDP) and create two million job opportunities by the year 2015. A few projects in Kuala Lumpur are already in the pipeline to support the growth of the tourism industry, he said, citing the Greater Kuala Lumpur Strategic Development Project. Under this iconic project, the government would revitalise the city by re-developing strategic federal assets, as well as implementing the high capacity mass rapid transit needed, he said.