The Paya Indah wetlands is expected to be re-opened to the public by early next year, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Mustapa Mohamed said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Due to cash flow difficulties faced by the Malaysian Wetlands Foundation (MWF), the government had directed the Wildlife and National Parks Department to take over the project on March 1.

Speaking to reporters later, Mustapa said the department will spend between RM60,000 and RM70,000 each month to maintain the site and its facilities, as well as to ensure the upkeep of animals.

He attributed the financial constraints to a drop in the number of visitors from a monthly average of 5,000 in 2003 to 2,000 last year.

The minister said this was due lack of promotion as "not many Malaysians know about the wetlands".

"The government is looking at ways to promote (it)...we are confident that, with aggressive promotion, revenue will increase," he said.

Last year, the MWF suffered a deficit of RM80,000 a month mainly because gate collection was lower than operating expenses.

Private sector participation

The management had reduced its personnel from 50 to only 11 last year. Five employees of the Wildlife and National Parks Department have been providing assistance as well.

Mustapa said corporate companies have been using the facilities to hold retreats and other events, but noted that there should be "more support" in social terms.

"Probably the management could consider getting the private sector to sponsor a few animals or parts of the park," he said.

In the House, Mustafa said the federal government had spent RM75 million to develop the 451ha wetlands as a national heritage. Of this, RM42 million was spent in 1998 and RM33.4 million in 2003.

Responding to a question from Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (Keadilan-Permatang Pauh), he said the allocations were for roads, chalets, an exhibition centre, parking bays and other facilities.