Pasir Mas Revival Part Of Strategic Plan For Kelantan’s Old Towns

KOTA BHARU, Nov 16 (Bernama) -- The Town and Country Planning Department (PLANMalaysia) and the Kelantan state government have taken a strategic step to rejuvenate rundown old towns, with Pasir Mas being the main focus.

PLANMalaysia director-general Datuk Dr Alias Rameli said that despite rapid new developments, the situation on the ground showed there were still old towns requiring special attention.

He said Pasir Mas was once known as a vibrant focal point and a family destination for visitors from neighbouring states due to its location near the Malaysia-Thailand border.

“But now the town is rather sluggish and requires comprehensive revitalisation, and several areas of the town need to be restored.

“The revitalisation aspects required include landscaping, pedestrian walkways, roads, traffic flow restructuring as well as the development of public parks,” he told reporters after the state-level World Town Planning Day celebration here today.

Alias hoped that the effort would enable the old town to function fully as an economic, social and tourism zone.

He explained that the construction of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) would be a critical factor in revitalising Pasir Mas.

With the main station in Tunjong and an additional proposed line to Rantau Panjang, he believed the economic spillover would directly benefit Pasir Mas.

To ensure more organised development, he said all 12 local authorities in Kelantan were given a special action plan to facilitate funding applications from the state or Federal Government.

“We have provided plans, documents and various financing schemes through the Housing and Local Government Ministry, including safe city projects, smart city initiatives and the construction of a Madani Recreational Park estimated at RM500,000,” he said.

Alias said, however, that local authorities must submit funding applications for these initiatives.

-- BERNAMA