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French tourists pose with
Mah Meri dancers from Bukit Bangkung and the Visit Sepang Year 2020 mascot at
the official launch of the tourism event by Sepang Municipal Council.
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Seven-year-old
Malaysian ice skater Sree Abiraame Chendren unwittingly became the topic of
discussion at the Sepang Municipal Council (MPSepang) full board meeting in
November.
It was proposed that she should be a
candidate for tourism ambassador for the Visit Sepang Year 2020 (VSY2020)
promotional campaign.
That her father Chendren Balakrishnan, who is special officer to Tanjung Sepat
assemblyman Borhan Aman Shah, had distributed VSY2020 flyers at all his
daughter’s competitions in Beijing, Abu Dhabi and Bangkok, was also a plus
factor.
There is no official decision on this yet but
as recognition for her skating achievements, MPSepang presented her with a
RM1,000 cheque and RM2,000 in sponsorship fees for her event costumes and
tracksuits in December.
An adorable brown mascot also became the
subject of debate at an earlier council full board meeting when it was brought
up that “Atan”, its chosen name, also meant female donkey in the Arabic
language.
However, as its moniker was a common, easily
remembered handle for many locals, the council stuck to its decision.
2019 was a busy year for Sepang as it went
about preparing for VSY2020.
To kick-start the campaign, a 50-strong superbike convoy headed by MPSepang
deputy president Muhammad Hafiz Shaari travelled 1,000km and visited nine local
councils to distribute flyers in January.
It was a gruelling trip and health department
director Kuzaini Hamidon had to finish the remaining legs of the tour in a van
after coming down with fever.
Another stunt followed in the form of a
30-strong team up Mount Kinabalu to fly the VSY2020 flag eight months later.
Meanwhile, ideas poured in as to what could
be offered as tourist draws.
The river cruises in Sungai Sepang and vast
intertidal zones of Bagan Lalang beach which are already a favourite
destination for anglers and picnickers were touted as star attractions.
A secluded spot near runway 32L of Kuala Lumpur International Airport was named
as a hangout spot for aerophiles by like-minded councillor Hazimun Rahmat
Mohammad, who suggested a recreation area be set up here during an urban
beautification meeting.
Malaysia Airports responded by building an
elevated deck sturdy enough to accommodate 40 people at one time.
The quaint town of Sungai Pelek made it to
the tourism promotion list too.
A grand century-old bungalow in Ladang Teluk
Merbau that was featured in Planter’s Tales, a book on plantation life by
Mahbob Abdullah, and a ferry service behind Taman Ria, which takes
motorcyclists and pedestrians across Sungai Sepang to Bukit Pelanduk in
Seremban, were named as must-visit spots.
Because of the tourism drive, the name of
late farmer, Hashim Pardi from Kampung Labu Lanjut, would forever be remembered
by future generations as “Hashim Bom”.
Visitors can seek out village chief Damarulan
Hassim for an oral history of how Hashim found an unexploded bomb believed to
be left behind by Japanese forces during World War 2.
The element of suspense lies in how Hashim had thought nothing of carrying a
bomb home with his bare hands. It was believed that the danger of the thing
exploding did not cross his mind until alerted by a fellow villager.
On safety concerns over the many boats
offering sightseeing tours in Sungai Sepang not having licences, MPSepang
Corporate Unit and Public Relations director Norrehan Amat Kasman said through
ongoing efforts with the Marine Department, six operators, all based at Jetty
Sirip Biru in Bagan Lalang, were now authorised to carry passengers.
However, boat operators and fishermen have
reasoned if the authorities want to collect fees, they must do their part to
preserve the river.
In May, Kampung Tanjung Mas Batu Dua jetty
operator Mashud Rosdi alerted StarMetro of the presence of algal bloom in
Sungai Sepang.
Negri Sembilan Environmental Department (DOE)
director Norhazni Mat Sari attributed it to waste discharged by animal farms
upstream.
State Veterinary Services Regulatory
Department head Dr Fahmi Ridza Mohamad Noor then said discussions were ongoing
on possible solutions and as
it involved many agencies, it would take
time.
A recent check revealed the situation at the
jetty had not improved.
The fishing community, however, is looking forward to better fish hauls in the
coming future with artificial reefs installed some two nautical miles off the
Sungai Mesok Jetty at Kampung Batu Laut in Tanjung Sepat in October.
This is the fourth installation of artificial
reefs in the area. The first two were in 2006 and 2008, involving 34 units.
Another 19 units were introduced last year.
This year saw an additional 14 units and all
were submerged in the same area. The total cost of the project for 2018 and
2019 was RM600,000.
Meanwhile, Tryke, an e-scooter ride sharing
company that launched its service in Cyberjaya in November has finally been
issued a licence by MPSepang to operate in the area.
Norrehan said approval was granted based on
an established docking base system that encourages users from leaving the
vehicle outside of its designated parking space, failing which, they will
continue to be charged on a per minute basis.
-thestar online.
