KANGAR: Kuala Perlis and Padang Besar will become the main development nodes for Perlis in line with the state structure plan to achieve a city-state status by 2030, the state assembly was told.
State tourism committee chairman Wan Badariah Wan Saad said various projects would continue to be carried out to increase the state’s income as well as to provide spillover effects for the residents.
“The Kangar Municipal Council (MPK) is in the process of providing commercial space to encourage food-based industries, namely by upgrading the food courts and related facilities next to Plaza Kuala Perlis, which has 13 food stalls.
“The campaign to enhance cleanliness and hygiene is being intensified.
“Food traders are encouraged to improve their services and standard of their food to enhance the image of the food business among the local community and tourists,” she said in response to a question by Gan Ay Ling (PKR-Indera Kayangan), Bernama reported.
Gan wanted to know about plans by the state government to attract more tourists to Padang Besar and Kuala Perlis.
Wan Badariah said a cashless parking system would also be introduced in the state with the first phase to start next month.
“We also encourage the participation of the private sector to organise carnivals and expositions to attract more visitors to Kuala Perlis and Padang Besar,” she said, adding that two projects were currently being implemented in Padang Besar.
One of them, she said, was the development of the Padang Besar Plazaria Complex, which could accommodate 188 stalls and expected to be completed next year.
The other was the Padang Besar Pavilion complex, involving an investment of RM30.3mil, which would be opened in the second quarter of next year, she added.
