The Star Online > Focus
THE Perak Government expects the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar) campus in Kampar to act as a catalyst to generate direct and indirect economic activities for the local residents in the town and its surrounding areas.
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali said the Utar campus would be able to accommodate about 10,000 students when completed, adding that the student population would spearhead a constant flow of human traffic to generate business and commercial activities throughout the year.
“This is an opportunity not to be missed. The people of Kampar should be prepared to take advantage of the influx of students and their families, especially on weekends, to make use of the accommodation and other amenities available around the town.
“Furthermore, the scenic environment of the campus site and its surrounding hills and lakes could be used to boost the economy of Kampar,” he said.
Tajol Rosli said it was the Perak Government’s objective to expand its educational programmes and make them more accessible to the youths of Perak.
Hence, he said, the state had promoted the establishment of both public and private institutions of higher learning.
“We are happy to welcome Utar’s participation in the development of higher education in Perak.
“I am confident that Utar will provide quality and affordable education to as many Malaysians and international students as possible and contribute towards developing the manpower resources essential for national development.
“I am sure that Utar will work closely t with the local residents and business community in bringing prosperity to Kampar,” he said.
He said Kampar – which comes under the jurisdiction of the Kinta Selatan District Council – would see various types of development taking place in the near future.
Under the Kinta District Local Plan, priority would be given to Kampar in terms of industry, information technology and tourism development, he said.
“As the Kinta district is blessed with an abundance of ex-mining land suitable for agriculture, the Kinta Valley can be turned into a major centre of food supply,” he said.
He said several housing projects had been completed or were being developed on 400ha of land south of the Utar campus.
The projects involved the construction of some 3,000 units of residential houses and 600 shophouses in Taman Bandar Baru, Taman Bandar Baru Jaya, Taman Kolej Perdana, Taman Kampar Perdana, Taman Bandar Baru Utama, and Taman Mahsuri, all in Bandar Baru Kampar, where Utar is located.
Other housing schemes are being developed at Taman Perak Mewah, Taman Perak Indah, Taman Angkasa, and Taman Sentosa, all located at the fringe of Kampar town.
Tajol Rosli said improved infrastructure facilities would include the upgrading of the Ipoh-Kampar trunk road from two lanes into four lanes by the state Public Works Department.
He said the double-tracking railway project from Rawang to Ipoh was under construction and two stations were being built in Kampar and Kota Baharu near Gopeng.
“With the existence of these two stations, Kampar town will be more accessible,” he said.