TOURISM in Kuala Kubu Baru (KKB), Hulu Selangor is slowly picking up but if the necessary amenities are not provided soon, the town will eventually lose its allure.
In the last two years, the number of tourists in KKB has increased by more than 80% — a number that many once thought was impossible to achieve.
The locals are slowly cashing in on the sudden surge of visitors but the business community there say the pace of infrastructure development is too slow for their comfort.
Infrastructure
Ilmio cafe owner, Tan Sue Suen, 30, believes the place holds great potential if its treasures are properly promoted.
The Tourism Management graduate, whose cafe is situated in the heart of KKB town, sees a great possibility to develop the place.
“These days, we can easily see 200 to 300 visitors each weekend. However, we do not have the basic facilities, including transportation, to cater to these visitors,” she said.
According to her, a lot of backpackers arrive via train but there is no transportation from the KKB KTM Komuter station to the town centre.
“We need a local bus network to service the town centre, train station and all the tourist attractions,” she added.
Even the bus station, nestled in the heart of town, is dismal.
Buses from Rawang town and express buses heading to Tanjung Malim make a pit stop at this run-down bus station, with a couple of taxis waiting for the occasional passenger.
Old-timer Hoo Jee Suan, 67, who runs the 35-year-old Teng Wun Bakery, opines that the most integral part of the town’s development are the signboards.
“Most of the signboards here do not give accurate directions. Many of my customers use GPS to get here,” he said.
He also believed that turning the main street in town to mimic Jonker Walk in Malacca would be good to bring in tourists, who enjoy walking around the shoplots in town.
He said the place was always packed during the weekends, and a unique walkway featuring the best things KKB had to offer would be great.
Apart from walking around town, KKB residents think that the bicycle would be the best mode of transportation in the area and suggested that the authorities create dedicated lanes for that purpose.
They pointed out that there were a lot of backpackers and cyclists who make day trips to KKB on bicycles.
Both Tan and Hoo are in agreement that a bicycle lane would prove to be beneficial to the locals, who can set up bicycle rental shops and still preserve the serenity in KKB and avoid polluting the air.
Kuala Kubu Baru assemblyman Lee Kee Hiong agrees with the residents about encouraging a cycling community.
In addition to mooting the bicycle lane to the local authorities, she also looked into building toilet facilities and rest areas for tourists including those who cycled to KKB.
“The facilities at all the Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) offices have been upgraded and toilets at the hawker centre have been fixed.
“Creating a bicycle lane and facilities for cyclists will help reduce the number of motorists driving up to the rest areas since parking spaces at the various tourist attractions are insufficient,” she added.
The Sungai Chilling Waterfall and the Sungai Chilling Fish Sanctuary are often crowded with people who park on both sides of the narrow trunk road leading up to Fraser’s Hill.
A small section has been converted into a parking lot but Lee is looking at the best way to tackle parking woes in the area.
New ideas
Lee and residents believe KKB has potential as a historical site as well as an eco-tourism destination.
“This town is full of historical value; it was built and developed by the British in 1931.
“It was the first township planned by a town planner and has a number of buildings that mirror KKB’s age and beauty, although not all are well maintained other than the shoplots,” she admitted.
One of the buildings that should be preserved is the old fire station built in the 1930s. It has been abandoned since 2001 after it was deemed unsafe for the firemen.
The department moved into their new building in Ampang Pecah and the old building was handed over to the Fire and Rescue Academy to be turned into a museum.
“Nothing has been done so far, and I have approached the Fire Department as well as the Selangor Malay Custom and Heritage Corporation (Padat) to turn it into an information centre for tourists,” said Lee.
The assemblyman also wants to create a track for remote-control cars at the mini stadium’s large carpark, like the popular track at Taman Titiwangsa in Kuala Lumpur.
“We are working closely with the orang asli villages as well, and getting them used to outsiders so we can showcase their way of life to tourists,” she said, adding that it would take time to get their confidence.
In addition, Lee has hopes of reviving KKB’s reputation as the best spot for whitewater rafting.
KKB was one of the top places for the water sport until 2005, when they lost the rapids to development.
Overdevelopment
On the other hand, all the talk of developing the town has several quarters — especially tourists and expatriates living in the area — worried.
Larry Scuccato said overdevelopment would kill the eco-tourism attractions KKB had to offer.
He said the waterfalls and their surrounding areas were already filled with rubbish dumped by picnickers.
“The garbage bins are overflowing and the people do not care about throwing rubbish everywhere.
“I do not think it is a good idea for the authorities to develop the town any further,” he said.
“It is the people’s mentality that needs to be changed, bulldozing their way through would not make a difference,” she added.
Their friends Reza Mansour, 45, his wife Alla and four-year-old daughter Aryana are frequent visitors to KKB and enjoy the fresh and cool air.
“This is our third time here and we enjoy the beautiful waterfalls and the food.
“We are here to enjoy nature and it is a very special experience,” said Alla.
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