Opening up mussel farm to woo tourists

A breeder harvesting farmed mussels in the Johor Straits, near Kampung Pasir Gudang Baru. — Filepic

A mussel farm in Kampung Pasir Gudang Baru will be promoted as a major eco-tourism destination.

Pasir Gudang mayor Datuk Asman Shah Abd Rahman said the mussel farm was the largest in Malaysia.

He said the farm would be highlighted as a place to visit under the Visit Pasir Gudang 2025 programme as well as Visit Johor Year 2026 (VJY2026).

The city council, he said, also wanted the farm to emulate Japan’s modern mussel farming methods.

“Instead of just selling the fresh mussels harvested from the farm, we could expand into diversified downstream products and create a unique product in Pasir Gudang.

“This way, we can elevate the income of mussel farmers,” he said, adding that the study on the project was ongoing.

Asman Shah said a task force had been formed to conduct a study and come up with the Pasir Gudang Tourism Blueprint.

“It will highlight some of the products, projects and promotions that we can do in support of VJY2026.

“The study is expected to be completed within six months, which is in time with the completion date of the Tunku Mahkota Ismail Youth Centre and Dataran Mahkota Pasir Gudang.

“We plan to have a grand opening ceremony for this project at the end of this year and at the same time, launch our Visit Pasir Gudang 2025 programme,” he said when met after chairing the Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG) full board meeting in Menara Aqabah.

Asman Shah said MBPG would work together with other local councils in the country to promote the Visit Pasir Gudang 2025 programme.

“There will be collaboration with other local councils to ensure that we can benefit from one another,” he said.

Commenting on the new crocodile sanctuary in Kong Kong, he said the physical development was expected to start at the end of this year and would take about two years to be fully completed.

“The development cost is about RM25mil. We expect the first phase, to relocate crocodile from Pasir Gudang Estuarine Crocodile Sanctuary in Tanjung Langsat to Kong Kong, to start next year.

“This relocation will cost about RM5mil,” he said.

He added that MBPG was finalising the design concept of the new sanctuary.

During the council meeting, MBPG councillor Leong Yew Seng said Pasir Gudang’s identity should extend beyond its international kite festivals.

He said other tourism products should be introduced.

“We should look for eco-tourism potential beyond the kite festival at Bukit Layang-Layang,” he said.

He also urged the city council to address the traffic congestion from Pasir Gudang to Johor Baru, by getting federal funds for new infrastructure.

“Placing more roundabouts is not sustainable as our population and development continue to increase.

“We need to look for much more impactful solutions, and I believe building a flyover will help ease the commute in the city,” he added.