Mustaffa Kamal (right) helping Orang Asli teenagers sort out freshly harvested mussels at the farm along Sungai Masai in Pasir Gudang. — Courtesy of MBPG
Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG) plans to upgrade jetties near Kampung Pasir Gudang Baru to accommodate tourists visiting the mussel farm along Sungai Masai.
Pasir Gudang mayor Datuk Mustaffa Kamal Shamsudin said the plan was a key focus for 2025, with the aim of boosting tourism and incomes of the local community.
“We are also working with the Drainage and Irrigation Department to construct a river gate to prevent waste from flowing into the mussel farm during low tide.
“The city council will collaborate with the Orang Asli and fishermen in the area to identify improvements that will make it easier for tourists to access the farm,” he said.
Mustaffa Kamal said this when met by StarMetro after chairing the MBPG full council meeting at Menara Aqabah, Pasir Gudang, Johor.
The mayor said the city council was awaiting proposals from the fishermen and Orang Asli communities on which jetties needed upgrading.
“We also need to consult Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia to find ways to enhance community livelihoods as well as provide visitors with hands-on experiences of mussel harvesting.
“Unlike other locations, the farm operates daily, not seasonally, and the mussels grow naturally without the need for seeding,” he added.
Meanwhile, MBPG chief whip Datuk Mohd Amin Ahmad highlighted plans to make Pasir Gudang known for mussel products.
“The mussel farm spans approximately 3sq km, making it one of the largest in South-East Asia, and produces at least 100kg of mussels daily.
“Similar to how dried white anchovies are a signature product in Sabah, we aim to introduce freshly frozen mussels as a local speciality,” he said, adding that mussels matured in a span of about six months.
Mohd Amin said there were smaller mussel farms operating near Kampung Pasir Putih and Kampung Perigi Acheh.
“Although these farms produce less than Kampung Pasir Gudang Baru, they provide a valuable source of income for small-scale fishermen in the area.
“We believe this industry has significant potential for growth and expansion,” Mohd Amin added.
