SHAH ALAM, Nov 2 — Selangor is aiming to draw more than 35,000 visitors to the Ban Canal Carnival this year, said state executive councillor for rural development and unity Datuk Rizam Ismail.
He said the event, to be held at Parit 14 in Simpang Lima, Sabak Bernam, will be held from Friday to Sunday.
He added that the carnival will showcase Sabak Bernam’s scenic landscapes, distinctive culture and rich agricultural heritage.
Rizam, who is also Sabak Bernam Consultative Council (SBCC) chairman, said the flagship project under the Sabak Bernam Development Area (SABDA) initiative, spearheaded by Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporation), or MBI, had received encouraging response, with visitor numbers rising steadily each year since its launch in 2022.
“Last year’s edition drew more than 32,000 visitors, highlighting Sabak Bernam’s potential as an ecotourism destination and growing public interest in nature-based activities.
“We are therefore targeting more than 35,000 visitors over the three-day carnival this year, which carries the theme ‘Nature, Culture, Sustainable’,” he said on Bernama Radio’s Jendela Fikir segment today.
Rizam said Ban Canal, built by the British around 1932, remains an important source of irrigation for padi farmers from Tanjong Karang to Sabak Bernam.
“Organising this carnival allows us to highlight the canal’s distinctive landscape, which connects peat swamps, an extensive network of waterways, and Sabak Bernam’s vast padi fields.
“The (carnival), which earned recognition at the MITDA 2025 Tourism Industry Awards, also has the potential to grow into a high-impact tourism event promoting the area’s distinctive natural heritage and local attractions,” he said.
“Visitors can take part in a wide range of activities, including the Nature Heritage Run, wall climbing, flying fox rides, fishing competitions, traditional attire contests, cooking competitions and dragon boat racing.
“We will also be holding the Bual Bicara Malam Jumaat programme featuring Imam Muda Hassan, Asyraf and Amin Idris, as well as a concert featuring popular artistes like Datuk Hattan, Hazama, Kristal X and Umairah,” he added.
Meanwhile, Rizam said the event has generated substantial economic benefits for the local community, especially food vendors, local product traders and tourism operators.
“Last year’s carnival generated RM100,000 in sales, and we hope a higher turnout this year will provide an even greater boost to local products, including a variety of traditional snacks like kerepek,” he said.
SABDA is a strategic initiative under the Second Selangor Plan (RS-2), designed to strengthen the agriculture, fisheries and tourism sectors.
Rizam said several key measures are underway, including the development of an Agricultural Produce Collection Centre under Koperasi Negeri Selangor, the Sungai Lang Fisheries Industrial Zone (ZIPS), and the Sekinchan Integrated Landing Port (SILP) project.
