Lumut: From its usual quiet charm, Lumut Waterfront turned vibrant as visitors flocked to the three-day Perak MADANI Rakyat Programme (PMR) 2025, which kicked off on Friday.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, trader Mohd Faizal Che Tan, 50, said the Perak PMR 2025, which concluded today, had given a welcome boost to local tourism, drawing visitors to the coastal town famed for its 'ikan bilis mata biru' (blue-eyed anchovies). Mohd Faizal noted the programme's potential to revive tourism and expressed hope that it would encourage more local and foreign tourists to visit Lumut in the future.

Afif Isyraf Izuwan Shah, 20, who works at a nearby seafood outlet, observed an increase in customers since the event began. Many visitors, including those from ministries and government agencies, purchased anchovies, salted fish, and other local seafood products, boosting sales. The programme provided seafood traders a platform to promote local products like fish crackers, fish satay, and sambal ikan bilis.

Held at Lumut Waterfront, the Perak PMR 2025 brought together over 200 services from various ministries and government agencies, attracting over 200,000 visitors to 36 booths throughout the three-day event. Perak is the second location to host the large-scale PMR initiative, a result of strategic collaboration between the Performance Acceleration Coordination Unit (PACU) of the Prime Minister's Department, which serves as the main secretariat, and the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), as the lead ministry.