New Straits Times 13 Sep 11;
KUANTAN: The state government will consider the proposal to impose a no-plastic bag policy in Taman Negara and create a litter-free zone near the national park in Jerantut to preserve the state's main tourist attraction.
State Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Shafik Fauzan Sharif agreed that such a policy would complement the state government's effort to gazette a 1.5km area from the national park as a buffer zone.
"We are considering the proposal, and the people in the areas must ensure the cleanliness of Taman Negara and the surrounding areas," he said to a supplementary question from Datuk Wan Amizan Wan Abdul Razak (BN-Tahan).
Being the largest and the oldest protected area in the country, the 4,343sq km park attracts thousands of local and foreign tourists every year.
Under the 10th Malaysia Plan, Shafik said the Tourism Ministry had also allocated RM200,000 to turn the rumah candu (opium house) in Jerantut into a tourism gallery for the district.
Meanwhile, state Information Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin said various enforcement agencies had raided 106 premises between January last year and July this year to weed out online gambling activities here.
He said 434 people were arrested during the raids, while 16 syndicate members were charged with operating illegal gambling activities.
He said the enforcement agencies had also proposed to the Kuantan Municipal Council to revoke the business licences of 70 premises.
The one-day sitting was later adjourned sine die.
Read more: No-plastic bag policy in Taman Negara http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/23bag/Article#ixzz1XsUicPzO
