Perak should take advantage of IMT-GT to boost economy - Zambry

The Perak state government wants to make the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) a vehicle to ensure growth in the border areas with the countries concerned.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir said as a state which bordered the two countries, namely Indonesia and Thailand, he was confident that Perak had a lot of potential, especially in terms of its economy.

"One area which borders Thailand is Pengkalan Hulu, which can be developed as the land-based development centre for both parties (Malaysia and Thailand).

"Another is Pulau Jarak bordering Indonesia, which has the potential to be developed into a terminal or hub for certain goods in the coastal areas," he told reporters after chairing the weekly state executive council meeting here, today.

He said this when asked to comment on his recent participation with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at the 10th IMT-GT Summit in Manila, Philippines .

Elaborating, Dr Zambry said efforts to develop the border areas in northern Perak could be made possible through a partnership between IMT-GT and the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA).

"So Perak should actively seek opportunities in the IMT-GT to ensure we get the full benefit from it," he said.

Earlier, Zambry had witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah (USAS) and the Institute of Translation and Books Malaysia (ITBM) to develop a curriculum for the Bachelor of Arabic programme, with the added value of having a Translation Certificate from ITBM.

The Perak Menteri Besar described the collaboration as a good initiative which would benefit the students involved to be major contributors in the field of translation.

USAS was represented by its vice-chancellor Prof Tan Sri Dr Nordin Kardi, and ITBM through its managing director Mohd Khair Ngadiron.

Under the programme, students must take a course in General Translation from English to either Malay or Arabic with 60 credit hours comprising theory and practical examination, to qualify for a certificate.

-- BERNAMA