Taiping Zoo and Night Safari (ZTNS) is expected to suffer losses between RM500,000 to RM600,000 during the ongoing Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) from November 9 to December 6.
According to Taiping District Council (MPT) president, Khairul Amir Mohamad Zubir, the loss, going up to 95 percent, is due to revenue downturn from the absence of ticket purchases.
“The downturn can be linked to the extremely low amount of visitors per day, at only 20 to 60,” he told reporters after chairing the council’s full board meeting yesterday (November 30).
Despite the losses, Khairul Amir said that animals’ food management costing RM150,000 monthly and employees’ salaries which require RM350,000 to RM400,000 monthly is still bearable
He added that MPT will be upgrading cages and roofs for hornbills, eagles and snakes on display, with a cost of RM1.8 million allocated by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan).
Besides the allocation, Perhilitan had been contributing food maintenance assistance to animals in ZTNS for four months, from August to November this year to reduce the zoo’s burden.
Khairul Amir mentioned, the state government has allocated RM150,000 to upgrade washrooms and fans on the zoo’s premises.
Meanwhile, the council will be increasing compound rates for parking offences; RM20 to RM30 for offences within parking lots, while for offences outside parking lots, RM50 to RM60, under the MPT Road Transport Order (Parking Lot Allocation) 2004 starting January 1, 2021.
Starting today (December 1) until December 31, MPT will also be offering compound reductions up to 50 percent for offences under the Local Government Act 1976 (Act 171), Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 (Act 133) and the MPT Road Transport Order (Parking Lot Allocation) 2004.
However, the reduction offer doesn’t include cases under prosecution and offences under Public Cleanliness (MPT) By-Laws 1984.
Rosli Mansor
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