KUALA TERENGGANU: The process of gazetting Pulau Bidong in Kuala Nerus as Terengganu’s fourth state park is expected to be completed by December. State Parks Management Council (MPTN) director Tengku Mohd Arifin Tengku A. Rahman said the council is actively working to fulfil all necessary requirements and processes involving various government agencies and departments.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the council has already initiated preliminary actions despite the gazetting process being incomplete. These preliminary efforts include conducting several beach and seabed cleaning programmes. Additionally, four rangers are currently undergoing training and will be deployed once Pulau Bidong is officially recognized as a state park. These rangers will play a crucial role in maintaining the park’s safety and aesthetic values.

The proposed state park will cover an area of 231.3 hectares of land, along with a maritime area extending one nautical mile from the low tide mark. Tengku Mohd Arifin emphasized the impo
rtance of stakeholder engagement, noting that briefings will be conducted with fishermen and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), which owns part of the island’s area.

Post-gazetting, considerations for ecotourism will be a priority. The council plans to identify which areas can be opened or closed to tourists, ensuring an appropriate balance between conservation and tourism. Discussions and engagement sessions with entities such as the Terengganu State Museum Board, the Fisheries Department of Malaysia, fishermen, and UMT will be essential to determine the operational areas for tourism activities.

Pulau Bidong, historically known for sheltering Vietnamese ‘boat people,’ was made accessible to tourists in January 2017. Currently, tourist visits are restricted to day trips, with overnight stays requiring prior permission from the Terengganu State Museum Board.