MAPS' temporary closure recently due to unpaid electricity bills - MB

GOPENG, Jan 13 -- The temporary closure of the Movie Animation Park Studios (MAPS) for two days last December was due to the power cut by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB)  because of the theme park’s outstanding electricity bills.

Perak Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu said the arrears amounting to about RM4 million could not be settled by the MAPS management at the time as it was saddled with debts due to the weaknesses of the previous state government.

"Through the current (state government) leadership, we find the MAPS has been drawing visitors and we have managed to collect funds to make payments such as for the utility bills and employees’ salary.

"We are also discussing with various parties in resolving complaints (on the MAPS) which I cannot divulge at the moment," he told reporters after the sales launch of Perumahan Mesra Negeri Perak (Rumah Perakku 1)  Scheme, a joint venture between Menteri Besar Incorporated (Mb Inc) Perak and property developer, MK Land, here, today. 

Last Dec 16, MAPS had in a statement on its official Facebook page, announced that the theme park was temporarily closed due to electricity supply disruption, which upset several visitors who had come from far and were not informed about the temporary closure earlier.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Faizal said 137 units in the first phase of the Raia Perdana Rumah Perakku 1 project had been sold out within a short time due to the prices offered, at as low as RM70,000 per unit.

"I am proud of the collaboration between MB Inc and MK Land in providing affordable homes for the B40 group. The state government is capable of fulfilling its promise of providing affordable homes to the people in Perak," he added.

Ahmad Faizal also called on other developers to collaborate with the state government in building affordable houses in Perak, especially for the B40 group.

MK Land executive chairman, Felima Mustapha Kamal said the project on a 88.6-hectare site, here, included the building of 1,125 housing units priced from RM70,000 to RM250,000.

-- BERNAMA