MKN Group Sdn Bhd

The EMKAY Group is now undertaking a massive ecotourism project in Perak, north of Malaysia. Early 2007, the Perak State Government alienated 242 acres of land in Pulau Banding, Tasik Temengor, Gerik to EMKAY to be developed into an international ecotourism destination.

Pulau Banding lies in Tasik Temengor, Gerik, Perak, and connects the state of Perak with the state of Kelantan (Jeli) through the scenic East-West Highway. The journey from Kuala Lumpur to Pulau Banding takes approximately five hours by car and one and a half hours from Penang.

The EMKAY Group then purchased the remaining 294 acres, making it the proud owner of the entire island, which lies in the Northern Corridor Economic Region.

The EMKAY Group will be developing Pulau Banding as the gateway to the 130 million year old 300,000 hectare Belum-Temengor Rainforest Complex, which comprises of the: Royal Belum State Park (117,500 hectares); Gerik Forest Reserve (approximately 34,995 hectares); and Temengor Forest Reserve (approximately 147,505 hectares). Pulau Banding will also be positioned as a premier destination on the world ecotourism map, and will be the gateway to Malaysia’s most unique natural heritage destinations. The Belum-Temengor Rainforest Complex, approximately 4 times the size of Singapore, is rich in biodiversity and is home to a diverse range and multitude of flora and fauna.

This includes, among others: havens for bird enthusiasts; rafflesia, the world’s largest flower; wild ginger, wild orchids and Tongkat Ali, as well as hardwoods such as meranti, cengal, keruing and merbau; at least 60 salt lick sites, which are frequented by wild animals such as Sumatran rhinos, tigers, Malayan sun bears, leopard cats, tapirs, black panthers, and other wild animals; and over 160 species of butterflies to whet the appetite of nature enthusiasts.

The Belum-Temengor Rainforest Complex is also the only place in Malaysia that is home to all 10 species of hornbills found in Malaysia. The Jenut Papan waterfalls, the Sg Kejar and Sg Tiang botanical and adventure sites are also among the many attractions awaiting world tourists to the Royal Belum State Park and its surrounding rainforests.

In tandem with the government’s aspirationto alleviate the standard of living amongst the population within the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), the Pulau Banding development project will be able to generate tourism income, jobs and business opportunities, especially for the local community (including the Orang Asli community).

Pulau Banding is being developed based on consensus derived from all stakeholders, private and public, which was gained after a series of discussions with individuals from different sectors on their concerns and wishes. These stakeholders make up a Panel of Advisors for the Pulau Banding development project and include: individuals who are experienced in various areas of expertise from Non-Governmental Organizations; the Federal Government; the State Government; the local community; and also the mass media.

The result of these discussions initiated by the EMKAY Group was the formulation of the PULAU BANDING CHARTER, a set of self-imposed guidelines for the planning, implementation and operation of all future activities, to ensure that Pulau Banding is developed in a sustainable manner with utmost respect for the environment, its inhabitants and to maintain its natural surroundings.

The first of the three-phase development of Pulau Banding, the Belum Rainforest Resort, will see the immediate provision of a 70-room three star resort, to be later upgraded to another 50 rooms consisting of chalets, complete with banquet and meeting facilities.

This project will also see extensive research being generated in the rainforest, harnessing its worth through various opportunities in the fields of biotechnology and pharmacology. All these will also help to improve the standard of living in this region and anchoring the State of Perak on the world ecotourism map.

In line with this, Tan Sri Mustapha Kamal has initiated the building of a Research Centre, the Pulau Banding Rainforest Research Centre, funded by the EMKAY Foundation and managed by the Pulau Banding Foundation to be used by NGOs or other interested parties to further ongoing research into the Royal Belum and surrounding rainforests on its terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

The second and third phase of the Pulau Banding development will see homestead land parcels (custom-built according to the natural terrain), a Rest & Recreation area and the establishment of two five-star boutique resorts north and south of Pulau Banding. The development will take 10-15 years to complete at an estimated Gross Development Value (GDV) of RM600 million.