Ng: Raub developing into tourism hub

RAUB: The hillside town of Raub is rapidly transforming from a humble commune into a bustling tourism hub in Pahang.

Such development, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, had been possible because of a responsible and progressive government. She said under the Barisan Nasional, the people's welfare was also well taken care of. Dr Ng, who is Raub MP, was speaking to reporters after handing out monthly welfare aid to 456 recipients here yesterday.

She said there were about 2,500 welfare aid recipients in Raub, on whom the government spends about RM6mil a year. “We are not like the opposition. We keep to our promises,” said Dr Ng, adding that there were many tourism plans for the town of 85,000 residents.

Citing Kampung Sungai Pasu and Kampung Gali Hilir, she said the two villages that offer “homestay” packages would be turned into “21st century villages” complete with wireless Internet (WiFi) service. “These homestay villages will also be given a garden theme and decorated with authentic Malaysian plants,” she said. She added that her ministry was hiring botanists to help with the village plans.

On the town's taxi drivers, she said 41 cabbies would be given simple courses to help them be tourism ambassadors to promote Raub and Malaysia. Dr Ng added that the Cabinet had approved the setting up of a Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia campus in Raub, which would cost RM300mil and accomodate 3,000 students.

-thestar online.