PADANG BESAR – The local community here is urging the state government to open the Wang Kelian shopping arcade soon in an effort to revive economic activities in the border town after the free-flow zone between Malaysia and Thailand was abolished in 2015.
A resident, Zul Zalina Othman, 40, said he hopes the state government could expedite the process to allow shops to operate at the arcade, which has already been completed for quite some time.
“Earlier we were told that the arcade would be opening in March, but nothing has happened since, and we have not received any news after that,” the former day market trader said.
Zul Zalina hopes that the opening of the shopping arcade will liven up Wang Kelian again, as this could provide additional income to the people, who are mostly farmers.
“It is also hoped that the arcade operator would not impose strict conditions on traders and allow them to sell products from the neighbouring country,” he said.
Md Razak Md Daud, 64, was of the same opinion and was also confident that the local economy would improve when the shopping arcade reopened, as local and foreign tourists would be passing through the border town on their way to Southern Thailand.
“These days, during weekends, we see several vehicles passing through Wang Kelian without stopping, as there is nothing to attract tourists here,” he said.
Razak said tourists at the Wang Kelian viewpoint frequently inquire about the attractions available in Wang Kelian when the tourist spot opens, which leaves him disheartened as he too was unsure about this.
Meanwhile, Perlis Forestry Department director Ag Shaffie Ag Ahmadni said the department has been given the responsibility to manage the Wang Kelian Arcade.
“We want to open the Wang Kelian Arcade as soon as possible, but we are limited by the number of traders interested in setting up their businesses there.
“The department has advertised for local traders to operate business stalls here, and we received an encouraging response at first. However, out of 32 business letters issued, only eight traders responded,” he said.
Ag Shaffie expressed his hope that locals from Perlis will soon occupy the vacant lots in order for the arcade to open.
He said it was learned that the traders wanted the same concept being practiced in Padang Besar, which is to allow them to sell Thai products.
“However, at Wang Kelian, it has been set that traders can only sell local products because we don't want the arcade to be dominated by foreign traders as local traders will lose out in the future.
“Besides, Perlis has several interesting products that have the potential to be developed,” he said. – Bernama, June 18, 2023
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