SABAK BERNAM, April 25 — The Selangor government today launched the 242ha Sungai Lang Fisheries Zone (ZIPS) near here, officiated by Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
He said ZIPS is a strategic initiative under the Sabak Bernam Development Area (SABDA) and will be implemented by Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporation), or MBI, with cooperation from Permodalan Negeri Selangor Bhd (PNSB) and Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS).
The high-impact project, situated near the nation’s main fisheries zone in Hutan Melintang Perak, will be developed as an integrated ecosystem that encompasses marine and freshwater aquaculture activities.
ZIPS would also be equipped with a processing and logistics hub, frozen supply chain facilities, and a research and innovation centre, and is aimed at strengthening the state’s fisheries supply chain value from production to marketing.
Sungai Lang’s strategic location will also be enhanced with main infrastructure networks such as the West Coast Expressway (WCE) and Sungai Air Tawar-Hutan Melintang Bridge for quicker access to the domestic market.
Also present were state executive councillor for rural development and unity Datuk Rizam Ismail, state executive councillor for local government and tourism Dato’ Ng Suee Lim, PNSB chief executive officer Raja Ahmad Shahrir Iskandar Raja Salim, MBI chief executive officer Dato’ Saipolyazan M. Yusop, and Sabak Bernam district officer Sadikin Sadin.
Amirudin added that ZIPS aims to develop downstream industries, including processed food production and added-value products, not just as a storage and distribution centre for raw fish.
“Through this development, we want to produce secondary products and so on, like processed food, to increase the economic value of the fisheries sector,” he said.
According to Amirudin, initial development of the project entails investments of around RM100 million to RM200 million to provide basic infrastructure like roads and utilities supply.
He said ZIPS would be developed in phases across about five years, depending on investor participation and the preparation of the master plan.
“The economic potential and jobs to be created are significant for local residents,” he said. “With this facility, catch no longer has to be sent far away to other locations for processings, as we will provide a complete ecosystem here.”
