Machap Jaya Emerges As New Tourism, Recreational, Cultural Destination

ALOR GAJAH, April 19 (Bernama) -- Machap Jaya is now emerging as a new recreational and cultural tourism destination in Melaka through the uniqueness of the local community's traditions, the beauty of nature and local food products.

Machap Jaya assemblyman Datuk Ngwe Hee Sem said various activities and tourism products are being undertaken by local residents which are seen as being able to attract local and foreign tourists, thus helping to boost the community's economy.

"We will adopt one by one tourism products in this area to be made into the newest attraction, including Hutan Percha which has various food products, batik industries and recreational activities such as hill climbing," he told reporters in Kuala Sungga here today.

He said this at the Ngoca Program in conjunction with the People's Representative for the People (WRUR) of Machap Jaya state constituency which was attended by the state Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Communication Exco Datuk Fairul Nizam Roslan and the state Youth, Sports and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) Exco Datuk VP Shanmugam.

Meanwhile, Ngwe, who is also the state Health, Human Resources and Unity Exco, said that a total of 98 programmes were planned throughout the week of the Machap Jaya WRUR programme involving the entire community of various races, including the Orang Asli community from seven villages there.

He said that among the main focuses was the resolution of basic infrastructure issues that were often raised by residents such as damaged roads, street lights and drainage systems.

“Machap Jaya is a rural area and we also focus on basic needs including the provision of community facilities such as a community hall and a hall for residents’ activities.

“We will do our best to address complaints and problems from residents so that we can help the people live their daily lives more comfortably and safely,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ngwe said the “ngoca” tradition, which is a mass fishing activity using hands held in Kampung Kuala Sungga, continues to be an annual event and is now in its third year.

He said the activity not only preserves the cultural heritage of the local community but is also able to strengthen relationships among residents regardless of race and age.

More than 500 participants attended the event, including the organisation of traditional sports, which also received an encouraging response from the local residents.

-- BERNAMA