Pulau Pangkor is an island off
the coast of Perak in north-west peninsular Malaysia, reached by ferry either
from the old jetty or from Marina Island jetty both located in Lumut (a
small coastal town that links to Ipoh through Sitiawan). It has a land area of
only 8 square kilometers, and a population of approximately 25,000 islanders.
It is heavily promoted as a low-key tourist destination by the Malaysian
government, but fishing and fish products remain major industries.
Historically, Pangkor was a
refuge for local fishermen, merchants and pirates. In the 17th century, the
Dutch built a fort in an effort to control the Perak tin trade. In 1874, it was
the location of a historic treaty between the British government and a
contender for the Perak throne (The Pangkor Treaty), which began the British
colonial domination of the Malay Peninsula.
Pangkor is famous for its fine
beaches and a mix of low budget to 5 star accommodations. Teluk Nipah and Coral
Bay on the north west of the island is extremely popular with travellers from
Europe. The quality of sand in the Pasir Bogak Beach is far superior to that
elsewhere on the island. The sand is golden brown, quite similar to most
leading prime beaches. There are a few resorts in Teluk Nipah or Nipah Bay.
Since the 2004 Indian Ocean
tsunami in Indonesia, Thailand and to a lesser extent the West Coast of
Malaysia in December 2004, there have been fewer local tourists visiting
Pangkor.
In 2006, a biotechnology centre,
a joint venture of Global Hi-Q Malaysia S/B and Hi-Q Bio-Tech International
(Taiwan) Ltd began operations with initial investments of RM100million
(USD30m). Their operations include fish farming and aquaculture, and the first
harvest is expected in 2009. Just
next to island of Pangkor, there is a smaller island called Pangkor Laut Island
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