Bagan Datoh will make history when it is declared officially as a new district in Perak next month, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Member of Parliament for Bagan Datoh, said the historic declaration would be made by the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah at the Sekolah Menengah Sains here, on Jan 9.

He urged the 30,000 people of Bagan Datoh to attend the ceremony to show their gratitude to the Sultan of Perak, the state government and the federal government.

"So racial, religious, linguistic and political differences should be set aside for the progress of Bagan Datoh. We unite and be present to show our enthusiasm for the long awaited development in Bagan Datoh," he said.

He was speaking at a gathering with community leaders of Bagan Datoh parliamentary constituency at Wisma UMNO here Saturday.

Bagan Datoh was gazetted as the 12th administrative district in Perak on June 15.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the federal and the Perak government had discussed the matter and agreed for Bagan Datoh to be upgraded to a full district.

He made the announcement during the national-level 2016 Hari Raya open house, here in July.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid urged the people to listen to a briefing from local officials on development plans in Bagan Datoh after the declaration ceremony was over.

He was confident that Bagan Datoh would be developed into one of the most progressive districts in Malaysia.

The town of Bagan Datoh would also be known as Bagan Datoh Water City soon as a result of the rapid development being planned in the area, he added. -- Bernama