BAGAN DATOH: THE Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) aims to accelerate socio-economic growth in Perak by including the southern part of the state into its development area.
Its chief executive Datuk Redza Rafiq said it was in line with the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP), which focuses on strengthening and empowering the rakyat’s economy.
“We are proud to announce that we have included Bagan Datoh into our development areas since January this year to spur the socio-economic development, here, as what we have done in Taiping and Kamunting.
“We are very committed to spearhead and bring in comprehensive development plans, which will be discussed with Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir next month,” he said.
“At the same time, we will also be doing public engagements and discussions with the rakyat and local leaders on potential industries and developments in the area,” he said at a press conference, here, yesterday.
Redza said all the inputs collected would be included into the review of the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) blueprint, which was expected to be completed by next year.
He said the review would include development plans, here, as one of the newly included district in the NCER.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Sunday announced that the cabinet and the state government had agreed for Bagan Datoh to be upgraded to full district.
Redza said this after handing over aid to 204 underprivileged families in the district during the “Kembara Seindah Syawal” programme organised by NCIA in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration this year.
The half-day programme was officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s special officer Datuk Khairuddin Tarmizi, who is also deputy chief of Umno Bagan Datoh division.
Redza also pointed out that NCIA had various initiatives and programmes to spur socio-economic development in the northern corridor areas, which not only focused on physical development but also human capital development.
“Among the initiatives that we have done in Perak include the launch of Rapid Kamunting bus serviced; upgrading of Kamunting industrial area; the Career Club Programme at Sekolah Menengah King Edward VII in Taiping and the development of ‘Greater Kamunting’, which saw the upgrading of Kamunting and Kamunting Jaya industrial parks,” he said.
He added that NCIA also had brought in investors into Kamunting, building a new ecosystem for the durian industry, upgrading Zoo Taiping and Night Safari and introducing Taiping Heritage Trail, which had contributed more than half a billion in terms of investments due to the influx of new hotels in the area.
“NCIA also initiated many initiatives in Perak, such as the low-land vegetables development in Lembah Beriah, Community Innovation Centre in Perak, Ruminant Centre of Excellence in Pondok Tanjung, the installation of a solar energy system for the use of Sekolah Kebangsaan Alor Pongsu in collaboration with Cypark Resources Bhd; and economic development projects in the Greater Kamunting Conurbation.”
During the Kembara Seindah Syawal programme yesterday, Redza visited four houses in Jalan Rungkup, Kampung Sungai Tiang Baroh, Kampung Tebuk Pangkor and Kampung Tebuk Haji Tahir to deliver daily necessitates and kuih raya.
He said NCIA in collaboration with Malaysia Building Academy would jointly help repair the selected villagers’ houses and facilities.
REACHING OUT TO UNDERPRIVILEGED
The scorching sun did not deter the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) officers from reaching out to the underprivileged, here, to bring them daily necessities and kuih raya.
The team, led by its chief executive Datuk Redza Rafiq, visited four houses in Jalan Rungkup, Kampung Sungai Tiang Baroh, Kampung Tebuk Pangkor and Kampung Tebuk Haji Tahir in conjunction with NCIA “Kembara Seindah Syawal” programme held here yesterday.
Redza, who was clad in a dark grey baju melayu, also handed over duit raya to the four families after visiting and inspecting their houses for some repair works.
One of the recipients, Rukiah Karto, 96, who lives in a house with part of its wall made from palm leaves, thanked NCIA for its initiative to help underprivileged people like her.
“I am very touched with this initiative as I do not have enough money to repair my house,” said the single mother.
Another recipient, Fatimah Mohd Yasim, 71, grinning from ear to ear, said she was glad that she could finally repair her leaky roof.
“This leaking had been going on since years ago and it is getting worse as the roof tiles are starting to rust.
Thank you NCIA for your concern,” said the mother of four.
The programme was a collaboration between NCIA and Akademi Binaan Malaysia to help repair the villagers’ houses and facilities in the selected rural areas in the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER).
A total of 200 underprivileged families in the district were also given some necessity items comprising rice, cooking oil and canned food. They also were feted with curry chicken and Malay delicacies during the Kembara Seindah Syawal programme.
The half-day programme was officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s special officer Datuk Khairuddin Tarmizi, who is also deputy chief of Bagan Datoh Umno division.
Redza, in his opening speech,said the programme was aimed at nurturing goodwill and to reach out the community in need.
“This is the third year the community programme is conducted and this is the first time it is conducted in Bagan Datoh.
“We have planned various initiatives and programmes to build and develop the Northern Corridor region, which will focus on physical developments and also human capital developments.
“This is to improve the social economic status of the locals,” he said.
Redza also said the southern part of Perak had been included into the NCIA development area in line with the 11th Malaysia Plan, which focused on strengthening and empowering the people’s economy.