THE Penang Development Corporation (PDC) has signed an agreement with Kat Resources Sdn Bhd as a strategic partner to realise an agro-tourism project in Paya Terubong.
PDC is a development agency of the Penang government, and Kat Resources is a subsidiary company of KAE Group Sdn Bhd and specialises in building products, materials, and others.
The agreement letter signing ceremony was held in Komtar today.
PDC was represented by its chief executive officer Datuk Aziz Bakar and Kat Resources was represented by its chief executive officer Teoh Kok Aun.
The agreement letter signing ceremony was witnessed by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Aziz said through the agreement, PDC would lease 407.95 acres of land to Kat Resources for 45 years for agro-tourism purposes.
“The 407.95 acres of land is located at Lot 6379, 6380, 6381 and Lot 6382 (near the Bukit Kukus elevated highway in Paya Terubong).
“The lease period will start from 2023 until 2068. Such an agreement between PDC and Kat Resources can generate 45 years of continuous income for PDC. The location has a huge potential to be developed as an agro-tourism attraction.
“Once completed, the place will be equipped with various components for leisure activities such as viewing bridge, buggy ride, flying fox, mountain bike track, camping site, hiking track and paintball.
“The place will also be filled with fruit trees, such as durian, to attract visitors.
“We are confident that this project is capable of stimulating economic growth in the tourism sector, especially in Paya Terubong,” Aziz said in his speech before the signing ceremony today.
Teoh thanked PDC and the state government for the trust given to implement the project.
“This agro-tourism project is expected to generate 400 job opportunities for the locals once completed, especially in the agriculture and tourism fields.
“Upon completion, it is also expected to generate RM8 million in revenue per year. This does not include the spillover effects on the nearby businesses,” he said.
According to Teoh, the agro-tourism project in Paya Terubong would start once it has received the necessary approvals for planning permission and other matters from the relevant authorities.
“The project is expected to take around one year to be completed.
“We also expect to invest about RM40 million over the next 10 years to develop the place, especially in terms of agriculture and infrastructure,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chow said the agreement between PDC and Kat Resources holds immense importance.
“The signing of this agreement marks the beginning of a strategic collaboration that will benefit both parties in further strengthening the development of agriculture and agro-tourism sectors in the state.
“The agro-tourism project is in line with the Penang2030 vision of ‘A Family-Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation’.
“We want to modernise and diversify the agriculture sector and further transform it to be in line with the development of modern technology that is sustainable and with added value.
“It is hoped that the agro-tourism project in Paya Terubong, once completed, will open a new chapter in the agro-tourism sector in Penang,” said Chow.
Also present during the signing ceremony were state Housing and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Seri Sundarajoo Somu and state Agrotechnology, Food Security and Cooperative Development Committee chairman Fahmi Zainol.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis
Video by Law Suun Ting