Potential growth: Saarani speaking at the state assembly held at Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan in Ipoh. — Bernama
IPOH: More investments are set to boost development in northern Perak as industries from Penang are looking to expand their operations southward, said Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.
The Perak Mentri Besar said investors from Penang have already made requests to expand their operations and factories into areas such as Parit Buntar and Bagan Serai that border southern Penang.
“Following the Automative High Technology Valley (AHTV) project in Tanjung Malim, Silver Valley Technology Park in Ipoh, and the Lumut Maritime Industrial City (LUMIC) in Lumut, the state government is working towards developing new industries in the northern part of the state.
“We have received requests from investors who have factories in Bayan Baru and Bayan Lepas in Penang who want to expand their operations in Parit Buntar and Bagan Serai,” he told the Perak State Assembly yesterday.
Saarani was responding to Noor Azman Ghazali (PN-Alor Pongsu), who asked about the state’s plans for developing Perak’s northern areas.
“Once the projects are announced, it will take time before they can start operating. They need to build the factories first, and then the job opportunities will come,” said Saarani, who is also Kota Tampan assemblyman.
He added that more than 1,000 jobs will be created in Seri Iskandar and Ipoh with the completion of projects that are due in 2024.
To another question, Saarani reiterated that Perak has become one of the top five states with the highest approved investments.
For the first quarter of 2023, investments in Perak went up by 550% to RM7.1bil, as compared to the same period in 2022, which totalled RM1.3bil, he said in response to M. Thulsi Thivani (PH-Buntong).
“Among the projects are the AHTV worth RM40bil, LuMIC, which is expected to generate investments amounting to RM72bil with more than 50,000 job opportunities in the next 25 years,” he said.
