PKNK board member Senator Tajulurus Mohd Zain said Mahdzir wanted the project to become a tourist attraction in Langkawi.

"We are mulling over the idea of getting the private sector to revive the project as it will require a lot of funds," he said in Sungai Petani.

The book village, mooted by former Mentri Besar Tan Sri Sanusi Junid and built in the style of a traditional Malay kampung, is home to a collection of new and old local as well as international books and magazines.

Tajulurus, who is also Merbok Umno division deputy chief, said when Sanusi mooted the idea years ago, he had the foreign tourist niche market in mind.

Tourists, especially those who dock their yachts at the marina, are known to collect books to read while they are on holiday. The idea of the book villageis to provide a place for bookworms to converge and enjoy.

However, the noble idea was met with scepticism by local authorities and many of the proposed cultural events to lure tourists just fizzled off.