New look dredge to be ready by Jan

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THE last tin dredge in the country will have a new look come January in time for the Visit Perak Year 2012.

It is currently undergoing a series of repairs.

State Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Hamidah Osman said the three-phase repairs and maintenance were also necessary to address some safety issues.

Site visit: Hamidah (right) checking out a tin-bearing bucket in the dredge.

She expected the dredge, located at the outskirts of Tanjung Tualang town, to be ready in three months.

“We have successfully lifted the sinking dredge,” she said when giving an update on the first phase of the project, which would be completed soon.

Hamidah said the state government-owned dredge had tilted 18% into the water on the starboard side at the stern over the years, adding that RM420,000 was spent to correct the tilt and keep the dredge afloat.

“The second phase involves the repairing and repainting of rust holes, while the third will see the installation of signage, billboards and touch-screen information system for visitors to learn about the dredge.

“This is a product of tourism that will help keep the tin-mining legacy alive for the knowledge of the next generation,” she told reporters after visiting the site recently.

Accompanying her were state tourism chief executive officer Ahmad Fathil Abd Ghani and Kinta Heritage Group Sdn Bhd directors Jek Yap and Adib Vincent Tung Abdullah.