I have blogged about Sungai Lembing, my Mum’s hometown twice and most recently, I mentioned that:

And it was during the British control that Sungai Lembing flourished into a rich town, but after PCCL was closed, the town slowly turned into a sleepy hollow. People no longer remember what Sungai Lembing was once very famous for. People no longer visit the sleepy town because it doesn’t offer them anything anymore.

But you know what?

Thanks to the up-coming General Elections, somebody’s turning the sleepy hollow into some sort of a gold mine once again!

Sg Lembing homestay scheme

KUANTAN: A homestay programme will be introduced in Sungai Lembing, a popular tourist destination in Pahang, by end of the year.

According to Pahang Tourism Action Council general manager Mohd Idrus Yahya said it was high time for the former tin mining town to be included in the programme as its rich history and natural products should be given exposure.

“We have embarked on a process to include Sungai Lembing in a homestay programme with the Tourism Ministry.

“The process takes about six months as we want to ensure facilities in homes of participants are up to standard.

“We should launch the programme by end of the year,” he said when met after opening a homestay seminar in Sungai Lembing near here recently.

More than 60 participants were present at the one-day seminar aimed at creating awareness on the programme and its benefits.

Mohd Idrus also said Sungai Lembing had many attractions in one place, adding that there were mountains, scenic hills, waterfalls and rivers in pristine condition.

It also had the longest tin mine in the world, he said.

“It will definitely draw tourists, be they locals or foreigners.

“There are big attractions waiting to be explored in Sungai Lembing and the homestay programme will help develop the town as a tourist attraction,” he said.

He said the Tourism Action Council and Kuantan Municipal Council planned to organise a carnival in Sungai Lembing in July to highlight it as a place to visit.

The two-day carnival would have, among others, a variety of sports events, a tour of the town and sale of local products, he added.

- Source: The Star, 29 February 2008

I’m not very sure if this is REALLY good news or if this is just another strategy for campaigning. After all, I don’t stay in Sungai Lembing, and I don’t know if there has been much positive development or growth in the small town since the last general elections.

It would be really good if the homestay scheme materializes because God knows that Sungai Lembing is really a potential tourist destination because of its rich history.

Or perhaps whoever wins this coming elections should really look into the search and rescue operations during the rainy season because the entire town is submerged every alternate year. Yes, there is no way we can stop rain from pouring and overflowing the river banks, but there are definitely ways to warn the villagers about the impending flood and I am sure there are ways to quickly and effectively dispatch help to needy people, especially the elders who live by themselves.

More pictures of Sungai Lembing in my Flickr.