KUANTAN: After the Jenderak Selatan Wildlife Conservation Centre in Kuala Krau, the Pahang government is looking at setting up a second endangered seladang or Malayan gaur sanctuary in Lanchang, Temerloh. Local Government, Housing, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman Datuk Mohammad Fakhruddin Mohd Ariff said the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) is in the midst of submitting an application for funds under the 13th Malaysia Plan for the project.
"The Pahang government through Perhilitan plans to build a gaur conservation centre to complement the existing ones at Jenderak Selatan and the wildlife conservation centre in Sungai, Perak. The surrounding areas near Bukit Rengit and Kuala Gandah currently have two conservation centres, namely the Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary and Malayan Tiger Conservation Centre.
"If the sanctuary in Lanchang gets the nod, Pahang will have two gaur conservation centres and this will further strengthen the ex-situ conservation efforts for the animal," he said in his winding-up speech at the state assembly sitting at Wisma Sri Pahang here today. Meanwhile, Pahang Public Works, Transport and Health Committee chairman Razali Kassim said upgrading Jalan Pos Sinderut in Lipis are among the seven projects, worth RM858.7 million, approved by the Federal government at five districts across Pahang.
He said the RM320 million road works at the Orang Asli settlement will be among the five projects carried out by the Rural and Regional Development Ministry while the remaining two projects were under the Works Ministry. Razali said all the seven projects were in the design stages by the Public Works Department.
Meanwhile, State Unity, Tourism and Culture Committee chairman Leong Yu Man said the Pahang State Parks Corporation has begun preparations to recognise the Lipis district as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) Global Geopark next year. She said the corporation was in the midst of preparing the dossiers for Lipis, which is the country's current largest National Geopark, to be part of Unesco's list in 2026.
The Sultan of Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had proclaimed Lipis with the National Geopark status early last year when serving as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Source : NST
