Nenggiri has potential to become high-impact hub for downstream, agricultural growth

GUA MUSANG: Over the next three weeks, the spotlight will be on Nenggiri, a small but resource-abundant area in Gua Musang, Kelantan.

Located about 20km from Gua Musang and 175km from Kota Bharu, Nenggiri, which is one of the three state constituencies in the Gua Musang parliamentary constituency is preparing for a by-election, with nomination day set for this Saturday (Aug 3) and a two-week campaign to follow.

Gua Musang district officer Nik Raisnan Daud told Bernama that of the total 16,179 residents in the constituency, 86 per cent are Malays, while Chinese and Indian voters each make up 0.2 per cent, and the remaining 14 per cent are of other ethnicities.

He explained that the constituency is situated in the Sungai Nenggiri area, a tributary of Sungai Kelantan, and is home to the largest Orang Asli population in Kelantan, with 2,759 of them from the Temiar and Mendriq tribes living across five posts and a community village.

The five Orang Asli settlements are Pos Tohoi, Pos Simpor, Pos Gob, Pos Pasik, Pos Pulat, and Kampung Kuala Lah.

According to Nik Raisnan, Nenggiri, which is known as the ‘penyambut tetamu’ (receptionist) for those entering Kelantan from Pahang, boasts a wealth of vegetable crops, fruits, and livestock, offering potential benefits for the agricultural development of Gua Musang.

He said that it also beckons as a durian paradise, where many farms growing the ‘king of fruits’ can be found easily, alongside a variety of other local fruits.

"Agriculture is a vital source of income for some residents of Nenggiri, which is equipped with infrastructure such as a health clinic, a community clinic, a police station, schools, mosques, a multi-purpose hall, and a flood evacuation centre,” he said.

Interestingly, Nik Raisnan said that the constituency, surrounded by oil palm and rubber plantations, provides a shortcut to Jeli, reducing the travel time to nearly half of the usual three-hour drive.

He said that despite its small size, Nenggiri has seven railway stations, which are crucial for those travelling to Gua Musang and for linking the different villages within the area.

Nik Raisnan said that the constituency is also home to villages that preserve their traditional features, such as Kampung Limau Kasturi, Kampung Star, Kampung Jerek and Kampung Bertam Baru, in addition to a Felda settlement known as Felda Perasu.

He said that the Nenggiri hydroelectric dam, a high-impact project by the federal government currently under construction in the constituency and due for completion in 2027, is expected to boost downstream economic activities such as aquaculture and eco-tourism.

The project is also expected to create more job opportunities in the aquaculture and eco-tourism industries, which will benefit local residents and industry players.

Nik Raisnan also said that the dam is projected to follow in the footsteps of Tasik Kenyir in Terengganu and Tasik Banding in Grik, Perak, two popular water-based tourism destinations in the country.

"Construction of the Nenggiri dam project started in March 2022 and (once completed) it has the potential to supply clean water, mitigate the impact of floods, and enhance the irrigation system for agriculture,” he said.

The Election Commission has set Aug 17 for polling, with nomination day on Aug 3 and early voting on Aug 13.

The by-election was called after Kelantan State Assembly speaker Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah was informed that its representative Mohd Azizi Abu Naim had ceased to be a member of Bersatu on June 13.

Barisan Nasional has named Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani as the candidate for the Unity Government, while Perikatan Nasional has chosen Mohd Rizwadi Ismail as their contender.

Since 2004, there have been five elections for the Nenggiri state seat, with Barisan Nasional securing victory in four of them and Mohd Azizi winning the most recent one.- Bernama