One-stop Transformation Centre opens in KK

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Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman (centre) mingling with customers during a visit to the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) yesterday.

KOTA KINABALU: The public can now enjoy the convenience of paying their bills, applying for passports, seeing a doctor, exercising, shopping for groceries and do a lot more under one roof at the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) Sabah.

UTC Sabah, located between Wisma Muis and the Petronas building off Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman here, offers the services of 43 federal and state agencies from 8.30am to 10pm daily, except on public holidays.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman, who visited the UTC here yesterday, said he was satisfied with the establishment and received positive feedback from the people at the centre.

An average of 2,000 individuals visit UTC Sabah daily since it started operating on December 16 last year. UTC Sabah is the seventh UTC established in Malaysia.

UTC is part of the government’s transformation drive under the National Blue Ocean Strategy. It aims to provide the urban community with key government, private sector and non-governmental (NGO) services under one stop centre or specifically in one building.

“This clearly proves that the Barisan Nasional (BN) government will always provide comfort and convenience to the people, such as applying for passports, (setting up of) 1Malaysia Clinic and gymnasium for the people, including children and senior citizens,” Musa said, after a briefing session and tour of the UTC Sabah.

A soft launching of the UTC Sabah by Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah will be held on January 23 this year, while Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is expected to grace the official launching of UTC Sabah in February this year.

“What (I see) today is satisfying as almost all the state and federal agencies, 43 of them, are in the UTC. The people are satisfied as (the UTC) provides them the comfort, convenience and facilities to handle (their affairs).”

He hoped that the UTC would continue to provide the best services to the people.

Meanwhile, Sabah Credit Corporation (SCC) chief executive officer  Datuk Vincent Pung said the two buildings, namely UTC Sabah and Wisma UTC, are owned by SCC. The Federal Government identified the buildings as suitable for the setting up of UTC, and it was decided by the State Cabinet that the SCC will manage UTC Sabah.

Pung is confident that the UTC Sabah will log up to two million visitors annually after the official launching.

He added that around 500 people went to the gymnasium and aerobics classes, while 400 visited the clinic in UTC Sabah yesterday alone.

On the other hand, he said operating costs of UTC will need to be discussed among the Federal and State Governments.

It was learnt that the cost incurred by federal agencies will be paid by the Federal Government, while the State Government will pay for the state agencies. Banks will pay SCC in the form of rental.

However, 55 per cent of UTC are common areas like lobbies or open spaces for the public. The cost of maintaining the common areas will have to be ironed out between the Federal and State Governments, he said.

Pung also pointed out the lack of parking spaces in the UTC compound, which could only accommodate around 100 vehicles at the front, sides and back of the buildings.

To overcome this issue, Pung said SCC would liaise with Wisma Muis to seek usage of its multi-storey car park, as well as the car park near the futsal building for staff parking.

He added that the public who park at the UTC car park will be charged minimal parking fees to discourage people from parking for long durations.

Among the agencies available at the UTC Sabah are Sabah Credit Corporation, Pos Malaysia, Malaysia Immigration Department, National Registration Department, Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board, Telekom Malaysia, Water Department, Road Transport Department, SME Bank, Ar-Rahnu, Lands and Surveys Department, City Hall, Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia, Royal Malaysian Police, Sabah Jobs Centre and Sosco.        Also present with Musa yesterday were State Secretary Tan Sri Sukarti Wakiman, Minister of Special Tasks Datuk Teo Chee Kang, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan, Minister of Community Development and Consumer Affairs, Datuk Hajah Jainab Ahmad Ayid, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, Datuk Edward Yong Oui Fah, Sabah police commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib and Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir.