Makeover for gateway in Kelantan

KUALA LUMPUR: Rantau Panjang has received more than a facelift to improve its status as a gateway to Malaysia, the Dewan Rakyat was told on Tuesday, Oct 19.

Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen said that all the existing buildings in the town at the border with Thailand had been repainted, public utilities such as
toilets repaired or improved and the landscape made altogether more attractive.

She said padestrian malls had been constructed in the duty free zone while a 3-storey complex was being built for a bazaar that would replace the existing market.

Replying to Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff (Pas-Rantau Panjang), Dr Ng said that RM1 million had been set aside to upgrade facilities and enable Rantau Panjang to function at night.

The local authorities will resume running the zone once all the improvements had been completed.

She hoped that they would manage Rantau Panjang well because "this is one of the 10 tourism icons in Kelantan."

Dr Ng said that foreign tourists arrivals through Rantau Panjang had been increasing since 2006, averaging 370,000 visitors a year. -- Bernama