GERIK, April 2 (Bernama) -- Premium Outlet Perak in Batu Gajah, a business centre showcasing a lake and the natural environment, which should have been opened at the end of 2020, is expected to be operational after final preparations are completed.

Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the state government was informed that the opening of the nature-concept shopping mall called the Silverlake Brand Village Outlet would be made as soon as possible in hopes of becoming a new tourism destination in the Kinta Valley.

“It includes an application to the Public Works Department to widen the access road. So, we will collaborate with them because the faster it is opened, the better for everyone, including other traders,” he told reporters after launching the initial planting of the Perak State Agricultural Development Corporation (PPPNP) Durian Plantation in Ladang Ayer Kala, Lenggong here today.

Recently, questions were raised by the public over the project, which was built on a 13.35-hectare (ha) site, which had yet to be opened to the public.

In another development, Saarani said 107 Ramadan bazaars would be operational statewide, involving 5,589 lots of stalls, from tomorrow. 

He said all parties, including Ramadan bazaar traders and visitors, were reminded to comply with the standard operating procedures (SOP) set to prevent the spread of COVID-19, although the country had entered the transition to endemic phase from April 1.

Also, based on data issued by the State Agriculture Department for the whole of last year, Perak had exported frozen durian whole fruits and frozen durian paste to Australia, China, Hong Kong and New Zealand, he said.

“Perak exported 416,700 kilogrammes (kg) of frozen durian whole fruits and 98,265 kg of its frozen durian paste to the four countries.

He said PPPNP was also planning to plant durian trees of the Musang King, Durian Hitam and D99 varieties in several of its plantations statewide involving 628 ha at a cost of RM44.41 million this year.

 -- BERNAMA