Musical Scenic Relaxing Parks in Penang ... Hooray !!!

PLANS are being worked out to introduce a musical programme at the Botanic Gardens and the Tropical Spice Garden in Penang to boost the state tourism.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said they were looking into a proposal and seeking the Malaysia Chinese Cultural Society to stage the ‘Music In the Park’ either weekly or fortnightly at the two venues.

The proposal is currently at a discussion stage.

“In places overseas, there are musical nights in their parks. Here, we can have quartets or sopranos singing.”

She said Penang needed such events to boost its tourism.

“It doesn’t mean huge events but just small ones in the little nooks and corners to give Penang talents a chance to show off,” she told reporters during her visit to the Tropical Spice Garden at Batu Ferringhi on Wednesday.

She said the ministry was promoting green eco-tourism to make Malaysian parks and gardens outstanding tourism products.

She said the 1.6ha Tropical Spice Garden was one of the unique gardens in the country as it blended into the existing surroundings.

“I’m a garden lover and no where in the world can you find a garden in the jungle. I’m glad to hear that it recorded 55,000 tourist visits last year. I believe there is potential for more,” she said.

She said the ministry was currently developing Malaysian parks and gardens as eco-tourism products.

“Penang is well positioned in this with its Botanic Gardens which is more man-made compared to the Tropical Spice Garden that is closer to nature,” she said.

Ng also said the gardens should be listed in the book ‘1001 Gardens You Must See Before You Die’.

She also said Malaysia would participate in the Chelsea Flower Show in United Kingdom from May 25 to 29 and had commissioned renowned ethnobotanist James Wong to work on the garden.

TheStar