By Suhaila Shahrul Annuar
SHAH ALAM, July 10 — The Ban Canal Carnival in Sabak Bernam has been proposed as an annual event to be included in the Visit Selangor Year 2025 calendar.
State executive councillor for rural development Datuk Rizam Ismail said the carnival, which successfully attracted 13,889 visitors last year, will continue from November 15 to November 17 this year.
“The Ban Canal ecotourism will maintain its original identity and will not cause radical disruptions to the sustainability and ecosystem of the natural environment,” he said during the wind-up of the First Selangor Plan's (RS-1) Mid-Term Review at the Selangor State Legislative Assembly session yesterday.
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State executive councillor for rural development Datuk Rizam Ismail speaks during the wind-up of the First Selangor Plan's (RS-1) Mid-Term Review at the Selangor State Legislative Assembly session in the State Secretariat Building in Shah Alam, on July 9, 2024. — Picture by AHMAD ZAKKI JILAN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
Meanwhile, Rizam said the Ban Canal ecotourism is among the 18 projects, programmes and initiatives (PPI) registered under the Sabak Bernam Area Development (Sabda) initiative.
The state government will continue to improve tourism areas and facilities, as well as prepare a promotional plan for Sungai Panjang's firefly tourism.
“Under Sabda, the construction of the Sungai Air Tawar-Hutan Melintang bridge will also generate economic spillover effects due to the construction project connecting the Sabak Bernam and Bagan Datuk (in Perak) districts.
“This project will enhance connectivity and help develop the economic and logistics ecosystem, which will benefit surrounding residents at a cost of RM210.2 million, and which is expected to be completed by November 2026 at the latest,” he said.
Rizam added that 12 PPIs are still in the conceptual planning and initiative stages, including the downstream seafood and agro-food industry at Sungai Lang, the Sekinchan seafood landing complex, and the Sungai Air Tawar ecotourism triangle.
“The PPIs also include the Bagan Sungai Besar fisherman jetty complex and the Selangor smart agro farm (SSAF)@Sungai Panjang and Jelutong Jati,” he said.
Sabda was among the RS-1's agendas when it was announced in July 2022, involving the development of high-value crops through the use of technology.
The development, covering an area of 1,317 hectares with a RM1.9 billion investment value, is expected to generate RM248 million in annual returns.
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Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari (fourth from left) attending the Ban Canal Carnival at Parit 14, Sabak Bernam, on December 10, 2023. — Picture by FIKRI YUSOF/SELANGORKINI[/caption]
