Don't belittle Lonely Planet's recognition of Perak among top tourist draw - Exco

Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohammed Radzi who is in charge of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Communications and Multimedia, said Changkat Jering assemblyman Datuk Seri Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin from Amanah, for instance, had compared the recognition by Lonely Planet to that by sources that were not of the same standing.

"Lonely Planet is the largest travel guide book in the world, established since 1972, while Touropia which is hailed by Changkat Jering is only a blogsite with 53 per cent of the respondents being from the United States.

"Indeed, we should be proud of it (Lonely Planet's recognition) and publicise it, not to be boastful about it but to tell the people about Perak's potential in tourism and the business opportunities that can be generated."

Nolee Ashilin said this when winding up the debate on the royal address by the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah at the opening of the State Legislative Assembly meeting recently.

She also hoped that all parties would not dismiss the important role played by government agencies, industry players and non-governmental organisations in conjunction with Visit Perak Year 2017.

On foreign tourist arrivals in Perak, Nolee Ashilin said the number had risen to 31,785 from January to March this year compared to 22,095 in the same period last year.

She said the number of flights had also increased, with Malindo Air operating 11 flights weekly and Firefly and Tiger Airways offering 14 and 10 weekly flights respectively.

"Sabah Air, Elite Jet and Executive Jet are also active through their charter flights while Helang Flying Academy is expected to operate from this September," she added.

Meanwhile, state Women and Family Development, Community Welfare, Housing and Local Government Committee chairman, Datuk Rusnah Kassim said 594 units under the 1Malaysia Public Housing Project (PPA1M) were being built in seven locations in the state.

"These are the PPA1M Meru Raya in Ipoh priced at RM154,800 per unit (240 units), PPA1M Taman Asoka in Tapah (RM200,000/69 units), PPA1M Akasia in Gerik (RM194,320/53 units) and PPA1M Taman Aman Jaya 1 in Parit Buntar (from RM214,620 to RM225,960 (34 units)," she said.

Rusnah said also being built were PPA1M Taman Kerian Indah, Kerian (RM147,234 to RM248,544/71 units) and PPA1M Taman Desa Aman in Kampar (RM135,800 to RM280,000/91 units.

She said the other projects were the PPA1M Ipoh Premier City (RM295,000/36 units as a choice for civil servants with a higher salary scale and eligibility for a housing loan.