Perlis to develop Pauh Putra New Town

KANGAR: Perlis will develop Pauh Putra new town costing RM500mil on a 2,000-hectare site in Ulu Pauh, said State Housing and Local Government Committee Chairman Dr Por Choo Chor.

He said the state government is seeking private sector participation after its application for a RM300mil allocation under the Tenth Malaysia Plan (10MP) was rejected by the federal government.

"Pauh Putra will have higher education institutions, government offices, industries and facilities for commercial and public activities," he said when replying to a question from Yip Sun Onn (BN-Titi Tinggi) during the state assembly meeting on April 6.

Dr Por said Pauh Putra was important to reap the socio-economic benefits of University Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Politeknik Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin (PTSS) and Taman Teknologi Tinggi Ulu Pauh.

The state government plans to offer incentives like quit rent and land ownership premiums to get private investor investment.
It would also re-submit the application for federal allocation under the second round of 10MP.

To a question from Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (BN-Tambun Tulang), Por said the state government plans to turn Padang Besar into a Special Economic Zone to spur trade under the Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT). Projects lined up include UniMAP, Perlis Halal Park, land disposal depot and integrated transport hub.

The state government has a strategic cooperation with the Public-Private Cooperation Unit (UKAS) and the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority(NCIA) to develop Padang Besar via the Private Finance Initiative (PFI).- Bernama