Former tin dredge must be preserved, says MB Inc CEO

IPOH: The Tanjung Tualang Dredge No 5 (TT5), a former tin dredge harking back to the 1930s, is a heritage that needs to be looked after, but its maintenance is costly, says Mentri Besar Incorporated (MB Inc) chief executive officer Anuar Zainal Abidin.

He said this was why it needed to work with a private company to develop the Ipoh Escape theme park in the area surrounding TT5 for its sustainability.

“The (Perak) state has mandated us to generate income to maintain the tin dredge, which is quite costly,” he told reporters when met after the Meet the Consumer Day at the Indera Mulia Stadium here yesterday.

“MB Inc is the land owner, generating funds through lease and profit sharing. Questions of liability or risk do not arise,” he added.

It was reported that TAFI Industries Bhd had been awarded a RM11mil contract to build the theme park in Tanjung Tualang.

TAFI’s wholly owned subsidiary, TAFI Home & Office Sdn Bhd, was awarded the job by TT5 Theme Assets Sdn Bhd which will run for 18 months starting from Feb 15, 2023.

The job scope includes constructing, testing and commissioning, as well as completing and handing over the theme park.

Anuar said Ipoh Escape, similar to the one in Penang, was only one of the attractions in the area surrounding TT5.

“It aims to be the biggest obstacle course in South-East Asia. Our target market includes tourists from Thailand and Singapore,” he said, adding that other attractions were a maze garden and petting zoo.

Separately, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad reiterated that the state had not given approval for any sand mining activities near the beach at Segari, Manjung.

“The beach is an environmentally sensitive area and a turtle landing site. We have never given approval for sand mining operations to anyone there. I understand that the act is by the landowner of the sand mining operation (nearby).

“They cannot bring the sand out as they need approval from the Land and Mines Department,” he said.Sahabat Alam Malaysia and Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam (Kuasa) jointly held a press conference two weeks ago near the sand mining site in Segari, which they alleged was destroying a turtle landing area. Several members of the non-governmental groups were blocked from leaving the area by the landowner.