Residents urge new rep to boost tourism in KKB

Kuala Kubu Baharu residents want the area’s potential in history, heritage, and natural beauty to be fully realised.

HULU SELANGOR: Residents in Kuala Kubu Baharu have expressed hope for their new representative to promote tourism, enhance facilities, and streamline approval processes in the relevant sectors, ahead of the by-election on Saturday.

Those who spoke to FMT sought the revitalisation of Kuala Kubu Baharu’s tourism potential, as the first heritage town planned by urban planners in 1930.

Trader Abdul Rahman Abdullah, 75, said certain areas had been overlooked in terms of promotion, such as hot springs, dams, Orang Asli villages, Ampang Pechah, Millennium Lake Park, and historical galleries.

Rahman also said that outdoor activities like zip-lining and water rafting were available in Kuala Kubu Baharu, but were being underpromoted.

“In the end, this place just becomes a stop for people to eat before heading to Fraser Hill for vacation,” he said.

Residents are asking for better maintenance of the hot spring in Taman Arif Utama.

Residents also raised concerns about the maintenance of the hot spring in Taman Arif Utama, calling for additional facilities such as public toilets for visitors.

Shafik Azmi.

Shafik Azmi, an adventure activities operator, hoped the authorities could simplify business permit applications, as he claimed there was confusion over categorisations.

“The local council doesn’t know which permit to issue to us. They only provide support letters for adventure activities such as water rafting,” he said.

“Once we obtain the permit, we can obtain a licence from the tourism, arts, and culture ministry, making it easier to apply for insurance and grants to expand our operations.”

Shafik also hoped for consistent water releases for water rafting to avoid disruptions to bookings, including those by international clients.

Nazri Sulaiman.

Nazri Sulaiman, who runs a paragliding operation, called on the government to help restore the tourism of Bukit Batu Pahat, which previously recorded 1,000 tourists per month.

“Since last year, there has been a decrease of between 400 and 700 visitors per month, perhaps due to economic factors as well,” he said.

Kuala Kubu Baharu, a Selangor state seat, has a mixed electorate with Malay voters comprising 46%, Chinese 30%, Indian 18% and others 5%.

The by-election on May 11 will see a four-cornered fight between Pang Sock Tao (Pakatan Harapan), Khairul Azhari Saut (Perikatan Nasional), Hafizah Zainuddin (Parti Rakyat Malaysia) and independent Nyau Ke Xin.

The seat fell vacant following the death of three-term DAP assemblyman Lee Kee Hiong on March 21 from cancer.