Better transport for Kuala Gula

TOURISTS headed to Kuala Gula to view migratory birds can now get boat services through the Wildlife Department or from the operator of the Kuala Gula chalet.

State exco member Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohammed Radzi said there are 12 registered boat operators with tourists boat licenses.

Nolee Ashilin said this in reply to a written question by Husin Din (PAS- Selinsing).

Husin had asked what basic facilities are available on the islands around Kuala Gula, and if the state government plans to set up transportation facilities such as boat services to take tourists to view migratory birds.

She said the development of the cluster indirectly provides economic benefits to the people of Kuala Gula through job opportunities ofr small entrepreneurs, food traders, handicraft traders and more.

“The state government has already identified several potential places to develop with the Kerian District Council,” she added.

Meanwhile, of the 130 registered tahfiz schools in the state, 61 adhere to the Fire and Rescue Department’s safety standards, state exco member Datuk Rusnah Kassim said.

Rusnah said the remaining 69 centres do not meet the standards yet, adding that there are a total of 146 tahfiz and pondok schools, including 10 schools which are no longer in operation, in the state.

She was responding to Datuk Sham Mat Sahat (BN- Alor Pongsu) who asked about fire prevention measures to prevent the reoccurrence of the incident where lives were lost during a fire at a tahfiz school in Kuala Lumpur earlier this year.

“Two unregistered centres meet the Fire and Rescue Department’s standards, while another four do not,” she added.

Rusnah said the Fire and Rescue Department has taken measures to address the matter, including the setting up of a task force to carry out safety inspection in all the 146 schools.

“Based on the the task force’s inspections, 56% or 82 centres are satisfactory, 18% (27 centres) were issued with notices to reduce the possibility of fire, and another 26% were given instructions to improve standards.

“To date a total of 53 tahfiz school fire teams have been set up in the state. The goal for the squads is to be the first responder in case of fire emergencies,” she added.

– The Star – 29-Nov-2017