Tasek Gelugor, in Seberang Perai Utara (SPU), is set to be a popular destination for visitors in Penang with plans being made by the state government to turn it into anagrotourismdevelopment area.

Tasek Gelugor Member of Parliament Datuk Shabudin Yahaya said Tasek Gelugor, with its existing infrastructure facilities, would be a hub for river tourism, as well as a haven for those who loved freshwater fish and prawns and other edible life from rivers.

"Tourists to Tasek Gelugor will soon get to watch the natural habitat of the rivers, likecrocodile, birds and trees," he told reporters after a visit to the project site at Pengkalan Machang here today.

On the visit, he said, it was to evaluate and study proposals that had been submitted towards developing Tasek Gelugor for tourism.

He said nearly RM700,000 had been spent for the project, to be carried out in stages over the next five years.

He said the project was being carried out with the cooperation of the Cooperatives Commission of Malaysia,through which three cooperatives had been established, namely the Pengkalan Machang, Air Itam Dalam and Labuh Banting cooperatives.

"These three cooperatives will be thementeein the implementation of the project, while Universiti Teknologi Malaysia will be the mentor to ensure the project continues and is properly managed," he added. - BERNAMA