December 3, 2010 at 2:30 pm
The Kenyir Lake, located in the state of Terengganu, is the largest man-made lake in Southeast Asia. The lake covers 260 square kilometres of land and is home to 340 small islands. Kenyir Lake also serves as another gateway to Malaysia’s oldest rainforest, Taman Negara. The artificial lake is also home to a variety of freshwater fishes and exotic wildlife. It was developed with the intent of turning it into a destination for eco-tourism due to its beauty and natural surroundings. However, the plan did not quite live up to the expectations of certain quarters.
Tasik Kenyir
After many years of neglect, the state government of Terengganu has decided to fully utilise the potential of Kenyir Lake as a tourist destination and have put in much effort to accord this destination as a Duty Free Zone (DFZ). In September 2010, Kenyir Lake was accorded with the DFZ status and much work is now underway to convert this ordinary looking man-made lake into Malaysia’s top tourist destination by the year 2012. An initial fund of RM100 million will be channeled into its makeover, with plans of constructing 300 hotels and chalets within the vicinity, addition of a theme park, an orchid garden, a fruit orchard as well as bird and butterfly parks. There are also plans to turn Kenyir Lake into a shopping paradise in line with its DFZ status and a duty free complex, shophouses and Customs department complex are also in the line-up of buildings that will be constructed within the area.
Though the revival of Kenyir Lake will mean a welcomed boost for the state’s tourism sector, there are concerns that all the development may cause a strain on the lake and its surroundings. Environmentalists are calling for an environmental impact assessment to be carried out before going ahead with the proposed plans. As the area has been untouched by many throughout the three decades, many of nature’s eco-systems are thriving and this should not never be compromised in any way.
Photo (c) mohd fahmi
Tags: Conservation, Eco-tourism, Kenyir, Lake Kenyir, Tasik Kenyir, Terengganu