PM launches Kedah Urban Transformation Centre

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ALOR SETAR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak yesterday launched the Kedah Urban Transformation Centre (ITC) here which he described as the manifestation of the close cooperation between the state and federal governments.

With the launch, he also announced that the name of Kompleks Majlis Bandaraya Alor Setar (MBAS), which houses the UTC, had been changed to Kompleks UTC Kedah.

Najib said the role of the UTC was more prominent now as it not only provided services to the public but joined forces with the people to help them in implementing certain endeavours.

The RM50-million Kedah UTC is the biggest of the five existing UTCs in the country. The others are in Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Pahang and Perak.

The Kedah UTC, which is a symbol of Alor Setar’s modernisation, provides services under 10 clusters including security, health, services, financing, youth development, utilities and education.

Najib said the UTCs, which are a government initiative, now also provided a new facility called the Community Service Desk (CSD) through which the people could apply for a programme to be carried out or get services from any of the agencies operating under the umbrella of the UTC.

“As an example, a village head can apply to the CSD to have a health talk or blood donation campaign done at his village. The CSD will then enlist the cooperation of a 1Malaysia clinic to undertake the task.” he said.

He said UTCs provided fast service and through them the people could save time in dealing with certain government departments and agencies.

In conjunction with the launch, Najib also signed a time capsule which was handed to him by Alor Setar Mayor Datuk Mat Noh Ahmad and witnessed by Kedah Menteri Besar, Datuk Paduka Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir and Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa.

The capsule will only be opened on the 25th anniversary of the Kedah UTC in 2038. — Bernama