Something's Missing

The Iskandar Malaysia Information Centre offers visitors information about what is going on in the region... or does it?

Admission is free, but it is not drawing the crowd. Some are not even aware of the existence of the centre. More should be done to promote it, and make it more visitor-friendly.

In the Johor Streets today

Lack Of Information For Visitors

JOHOR BARU: There are strong views that the Iskandar Malaysia Information Centre in Danga Bay Convention Centre, which has a world-class facade and interior, should be doing more to promote Iskandar Malaysia.

A nature lover, who only wanted to be known as Cyndi, claimed she had come to Iskandar Malaysia to visit the mangroves as she had heard much about the state’s plan to promote eco-tourism.

Cyndi said she had asked the security guard for information at the centre but she did not receive much assistance from him.

“I was impressed with the interactive touch-screen panels and the sophisticated decor. However, I could not find the information that I needed.”

Streets had also visited the centre twice. On Thursday, we went to the centre at 3pm but it appeared to be closed. A few people who were outside the centre also thought that the centre was “closed” as it was a Thursday (half day for those working in the government sector).

We then revisited the centre on Monday at 2pm. The centre appeared to be closed and the security guard did not inform visitors otherwise.

A reporter asked the guard if it was opened and he replied: “Just go in.”

From observation, the interior was classy and there seemed to be a wealth of information available. However, it could also seem like a case of information overload.

There was an innovative section called the Ramsar Boat, which was a virtual boat ride to the Ramsar site.

The boat seats a maximum of 10 persons and take a load of 1,000kg.

There also appears to be a poster on eco-tourism, but the information that a tourist would need to embark on an eco-tour was not available.

At the time, the centre was hosting a student delegation comprising 40 people from Tanjungpura University in Pontianak, in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, where an Iskandar Regional Development Authority personnel was briefing them about the southern development corridor.

It is learnt that the centre received 33,411 visitors last year.

A centre spokesman said the visitors comprised of locals and foreigners.