UTC unmatched by any other in world – PM
SEREMBAN: The Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) introduced by the Malaysian government is a one-stop public amenities facility unmatched by any other elsewhere in the world, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The Prime Minister said he knew of this for certain after having enquired from his counterparts in other countries.
“On my visits, I have asked my counterparts (about such a facility). There are none,” he said when opening the first UTC in Negeri Sembilan at Ampangan here yesterday.
Also present at the launch were Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Treasury secretarygeneral Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah and Negeri Sembilan Legislative Assembly speaker Datuk Dr Awaluddin Said.
Najib said the UTC remained open up to 10 pm daily except on public holidays, and added that the attraction was that it was a one-stop centre for a host of services and it remained open until late at night.
The Negeri Sembilan UTC is the 20th in the country, established in three months at a cost of RM34.26 million at an existing building.
Addressing about 10,000 people, Najib related an experience in connection with the services provided at a UTC.
He said that on a recent visit to Kota Kinabalu, he happened to chat with several social media practitioners, who were not necessarily government supporters, and asked them which government facility the people were most happy with.
“They were unanimous in stating that it was the UTC. One of them said his office was opposite the Kota Kinabalu UTC and even at 10 pm it would be packed with people,” he said.
Najib also related the case of a Malaysian Indian who had come with his mother to the KL International Airport for a trip to India and found that his mother's passport had expired.
“The man rushed to the Sentul UTC, had the passport renewed in less than an hour and rushed back to KLIA on time to catch the flight,” he said.
The Prime Minister said these were true stories which proved that the transformation which the government was championing was bearing fruit.
He said Negeri Sembilan would emerge as a developed and competitive state in a few years following the government transformation though it had yet to benefit from the High-Speed Rail and Malaysia Vision Valley projects.
Najib said the Negeri Sembilan UTC would have the new 1Serve service where the integrated National Registration Department (JPN), Road Transport Department (JPJ) and Immigration Department (JIM) services would be offered at one counter.
“So, we can avail of the three services at one place. This is something new at the UTC in Ampangan. We have also made it easy for job-seekers. We have a jobs centre, the SL1M (1Malaysia Training Scheme), HRDF (Human Resource Development Fund) and Teraju (Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit).
“People can enquire about employment opportunities. I would also like to inform that from 2013 to October this year, UTCs in the country recorded 54 million visitors. That reflects our success,” he said.
The Negeri Sembilan UTC, located at Jalan Seremban-Kuala Pilah, started operating on Nov 20.
Referring to a request from Mohamad for the construction of a flyover and a hall in Ampangan, the Prime Minister said an allocation would be approved for these.
The Human Resource Ministry, National Higher Education Fund Corporation, Tabung Haji, Mara, Inland Revenue Board, Youth and Sports Ministry-Y Centre have branch offices at the UTC. The state agencies having offices there are TM Point, Syarikat Air Negeri Sembilan Sdn Bhd, police, health clinic, dental clinic, JPN, JIM and JPJ.