DUNGUN: Sungai Dungun, once an important waterway for the local community, is now being revived as a recreational route and a new tourism attraction through kayaking in Hulu Dungun.
Koperasi Sejahtera Kuala Jengai Berhad chairman Che Ku Abd Rahimi Che Ku Mat Salleh said the activity, organised by the cooperative, opened up opportunities for economic development through the provision of recreational services, while also having the potential to generate income for the local community.
He said besides Sungai Dungun, several other rivers were also suitable for kayaking, including Sungai Loh and Sungai Kelemin.
The kayaking route, covering a distance of about 10 kilometres, takes between four and six hours to complete.
“Kayaking offers an experience of travelling along the river amid a natural environment that remains well preserved, while also providing participants with an opportunity to learn more about the history, community life and interesting locations along the river route,” he said when met after the Kayak Kembara Lembah Jengai 2.0 programme at Laman Warisan Kuala Jengai here today.
A total of 60 participants comprising government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and tourists took part in the kayaking activity from Sungai Loh to Kuala Jengai.
Che Ku Abd Rahimi said the kayaking programme also aimed to promote the recreational activity, which was gaining increasing popularity.
He said Hulu Dungun was previously well known for hiking at Gunung Berembun, which has three waterfalls, namely Chemerong, Berembun and Langsir.
A participant, Asmawi Alias, 49, from Kuala Berang, Hulu Terengganu, said the activity provided an interesting experience as he had the opportunity to travel along Sungai Dungun while enjoying the beauty of the well-preserved natural environment along the route.
He said the kayaking experience not only tested physical endurance but also gave participants an opportunity to explore the Lembah Jengai area more closely, including the community’s way of life and the uniqueness of the river, which was once an important route for local residents.
“This activity should be continued and expanded in the future as it has the potential to become a new recreational and tourism attraction, while encouraging the community to appreciate and jointly preserve the sustainability of Sungai Dungun,” he said.
