Rundown old towns in Kelantan are to be rejuvenated, with Pasir Mas being the main focus of action by the town and country planning department and the Kelantan state government, according to the director-general of planning, Alias Rameli.
He said Pasir Mas was once 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,” he said in Kota Bharu after state-level celebrations for world planning day, Bernama reports.
He said the revitalisation plans included landscaping, pedestrian paths, roads, changes in traffic flow and the development of public parks. He hoped that the effort would enable the old town to function fully as an economic, social and tourism zone.
The construction of the East Coast Rail Link would be a critical factor in revitalising Pasir Mas, he said, through economic spillover from the main station being located in Tunjong and an additional proposed line to Rantau Panjang.
All 12 local authorities in Kelantan have been 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.
