THE much-awaited first Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) Penang, which houses various government agencies, is set to open its doors to Penangites in Komtar on Monday (Aug 17).
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the Finance Ministry had yesterday given its approval for the 42,000sq ft UTC Penang located at Level Two and Level Three to be officially opened.
He said nine government agencies would be operating at the RM20 million centre beginning next week.
“The agencies are Public Services Commission, Immigration Department, National Registration Department (NRD), Inland Revenue Board (IRB), National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN), Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), Women Family and Community Development Ministry, Information Department and Health Ministry.
“Other agencies that will be opened later are Royal Malaysia Police, JobsMalaysia and Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry.
“UTC Penang will be a new horizon in delivering government services and I believe that many people have been waiting for the centre’s operations to start off.
“The state expects the number of people to increase once UTC is fully operating.
“The Penang Development Corporation (PDC), which owns the office space, bears the upgrading cost of RM14.76 million while RM5.24 million is borne by the Finance Ministry.
“In accordance to the lease agreement between PDC and Finance Ministry, the latter will lease the space for nine years.
“UTC Penang is seen to be an additional value to Komtar as it will rejuvenate the complex and provide business opportunities to the traders nearby,” he told a press conference in Komtar today.
The UTC Penang, a Federal Government initiative under the Finance Ministry, is aimed at providing government and private sector services to the people under one roof.
On the availability of parking lots, Chow said there are plenty of parking lots in the vicinity.
“There are ample lots nearby, which can be utilised when people are coming to UTC.
“They are encouraged to park their vehicles at designated spaces instead of parking illegally.
“They can take a short walk to UTC after parking their vehicles nearby,” he said.
PDC senior deputy general manager Datuk Yeoh Lean Huat said the centre would help to lift up the businesses in the vicinity.
He said this would help to generate growth in Komtar complex and encourage others to take up the lots inside the complex for business purposes.
The UTC will be open daily from 8am to 9pm (Monday – Friday) while its operating hours for weekend will be from 8am to 5pm.
It will operate without lunch break except from 12.15pm to 2.45pm on Friday. However, it will be closed during public holidays.
Also present during press conference were state Tourism Development, Heritage, Culture and Arts Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin, Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng and Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Alissala Thian
Video by Law Suun Ting