THE setting up of the first Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) in Penang is going on smoothly in Komtar with renovation work at 80% complete, says Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng.
He said the renovation work being carried out by Penang Development Corporation (PDC) is expected to complete by March this year after which the premises would be handed over to UTC for them to set up their equipment, system and furniture.
“We expect the UTC to be operational in June this year. I understand 13 federal government agencies will move into Komtar and will be housed at Level Two and Level Three,” Teh said in an interview with Buletin Mutiara today.
“So, with the federal government agencies providing their services soon together with the current services provided by the local council and state government agencies in Komtar, this will be convenient for the public, especially the people on the Penang island. It’s going to be a one-stop centre.”
The UTC, a federal government initiative under the Ministry of Finance (MoF), is to bring services to the people.
Among the agencies that will operate at UTC Komtar are Public Services Commission, Royal Malaysian Police, Immigration Department, Health Department, National Higher Education Fund Corporation, Road Transport Department, Inland Revenue Board, Telekom and Tenaga Nasional Berhad, National Registration Department and JobsMalaysia.
The renovation work for the proposed area of about 44,000sq ft is expected to cost PDC RM20 million.
MoF, as the tenant, will pay the rental and facility management charges to PDC as the property owner.
Teh said he had lobbied for the setting up of UTC in Komtar a few times at the state assembly meetings and finally, with the assistance of PDC, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, it would become a reality soon.
Many other states had established UTCs such as UTC Perak, UTC Johor, UTC Pahang, UTC Kedah, UTC Sabah, UTC Sarawak and UTC KL.
Teh said the setting up of UTC Komtar would also help to revitalise the area as many parties have shown interest in renting available units in Komtar.
He said he had also suggested the setting up of a digital library corner at UTC Komtar for the public while they wait for the services they want to have.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Ahmad Adil Mohamad