Kuala Terengganu declared a city

MYT 6:02:26 PM

KUALA TERENGGANU: Heavy downpour early Tuesday morning greeted the birth of a new Kuala Terengganu city. 

The Regent of Terengganu, Tengku Muhammad Ismail Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, officially declared Kuala Terengganu a city during a ceremony at Istana Maziah here at 8.30am. 

Kuala Terengganu will be known as "Waterfront Heritage City'', joining the ranks of Malaysia's 12 other cities.  

The declaration, conducted in a typical Terengganu-styled tradition began when Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun handed over the formal declaration of Kuala Terenggganu as a City Council to Tengku Muhammad Ismail. 

The Regent then presented the document to Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh. 

Idris also read the appointment of Datuk Mat Razali Kassim as the mayor of Kuala Terengganu before the Regent. 

Mat Razali then took the oath of office before Tengku Muhammad Ismail before the youngest Regent in the country symbolically garlanded the "appointment" award. 

When met after the ceremony, Idris said the city folks could anticipate more goodies with Kuala Terengganu assuming the status. 

He said Kuala Terengganu folks could expect better quality lifestyle and improved local government services. 

"There will be more business and employment opportunities, robust growth and enhanced amenities," he said.