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Translated from Berita Harian
BENTONG: The Lembah Digital Bilut pilot project is set to boost the quality of life of the 6,000 residents of Felda Lurah Bilut here.
Federal Land Development Authority's (Felda) deputy director (Economic Development) Haniff Ahmad Norilah said the programme would make the settlers quality of life equal to that of urban areas.
He said this would involve infrastructural development and human capital in order to transform the area into a smart city.
He said the project - which is estimated to take five years to be completed - would not only enable residents to enjoy high-speed internet but also related economic opportunity through digital entrepreneurialism, modern agricultural practice and eco-tourism.
"The project seeks to attract people from outside, whether tourists or investors, to Felda Lurah Bilut while accommodating existing residents like the new generation after the first generation settlers, with various job opportunities.
"The project would begin with development of basic infrastructure, especially high-speed internet up to 100Mbps based on fibre optic broadband, that is estimated to be finished by April.
"The internet capability can be the spearhead (for development) and supported by other infrastructural development such as Felda Museum, homestays, recreational parks, business centrs Dataran Tun Razak, river landscape and walkways alongside the rivers to attract tourists.
"We have also plans to upgrade Titian Tun Razak for its nostalgic and historical value, and increase the water quality of Sungai Bilut and Sungai Kertau to Class 1 (drinkable) that surrounds Felda Lurah Bilut," he said.
He was speaking during a briefing on the Felda 2.0 Lembah Digital Bilut pilot project at the meeting room of Felda Lurah Bilut here today.
The briefing was also attended by representatives from Felda, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMU) and Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), among others.
Haniff said that Felda Lurah Bilut was chosen for the project as it is was the first settlement established in 1958 by Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, who would go on to become Malaysia's second prime minister.
He said the area is strategic due to it being only one hour away from Kuala Lumpur, as well as being 16km from Bentong town, which is earmarked as part of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) network.
"The Central Spine Road (CSR), that connects Pahang and Kelantan, would also be constructed near this Felda (Lurah Bilut) and Dataran Tun Razak has the potential to be a mini Rest and Service Area (RSA)," he said.