New small townships planned across the state will be people centric developments that will benefit the rakyat. When fully completed, each town will have all the necessary amenities as needed by the local communities.
However, focus on the new small townships will not only on its physical development, but also the socio-economic aspects of the locations.
“There are certain criteria that we follow before we earmark a small town to be redevelopment. Take Tapah Road for example; we negotiated for an institution of higher learning to be built in the area.
“Alhamdulillah, Perak Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) agreed to build a campus here, and by 2013 some 9,000 students will be studying here,” Dr. Zambry told reporters after the ground breaking ceremony for the new Tapah Road township, today.
Additionally, there is a automotive wire harness manufacturing facility already operating not far down the road from the new township site and the UiTM campus.
The new UiTM campus when fully completed, Dr. Zambry said, will become an important catalyst for the area’s growth. The new Tapah Road town, he hopes, could create the synergies to provide the needs of the high concentrated number of people.
“The new Tapah Road town will have shops, low cost residential areas and other amenities needed by the large number of students, plus the campus faculty and administration staff,” Dr. Zambry said.
Ultimately the new Tapah Road township will have an area of about 3,500 acres but in the first stage, about 100 acres will be developed. The Chief Minister said that such projects are preferably done bit by bit depending on the capabilities of the state government.
Dr. Zambry further added that, there’s no point in planning big projects but in the end the only things left are just the plans.
The development of the new Tapah Road township is undertaken by a joint venture between Tenaga Danawa Sdn Bhd (TDSB); a subsidiary of the Majuperak Holding Berhad and Perak State Development Corporation (PKNPk); and several private companies.
The new Tapah Road small township is among 14 other locations in the state identified for rejuvenation. The program is one of the main goals of the Perak Amanjaya initiative that is equitable development.
Also present at the ground breaking ceremony were, State Secretary, Datuk Seri Dr. Abdul Rahman Hashim, Ayer Kuning assemblyman, Datuk Samsudin Abu Hasan who is also chairman of TDSB, Batang Padang District Officer, Razali Bakar, PKNPk CEO, Datuk Shamsuddin Jashim, and the Chief Minister’s wife, Datin Seri Saripah Zulkifli.
