KUANTAN: Sultan of Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah wants Pulau Tioman to be made a top priority in the state's development agenda, stressing that it should no longer be regarded as a "faraway area" receiving insufficient attention.
He said his four-day visit to the island, which begins today, was not only to engage with residents in welcoming the month of Ramadan but also to personally assess the current situation and progress of development in the area.
He said that Pulau Tioman was a valuable asset and a gem of Pahang that must be preserved and developed in a well-planned manner.
The Sultan also expressed concern over the island's basic infrastructure, which he said still lagged behind other areas.
"If we compare in terms of infrastructure, Pulau Tioman is still behind in basic facilities. Roads are not in perfect condition, electricity is not fully reliable, water supply is incomplete, and some houses are in poor condition. It is time that full attention is given to Pulau Tioman," he said in a statement posted on the Kesultanan Pahang Facebook page.
