UTC meets the needs of Kedah people

The Kedah Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, here last Friday, is a facility that was much anticipated by the people of Kedah, especially its town residents. The Kedah UTC, which began operating on July 23, is a one-stop centre for private and government services involving 32 federal government agencies, statutory bodies and the private sector, as well as 11 state government agencies. The Kedah UTC building itself was a transformation by the federal government through the Finance Ministry as it had previously been unoccupied since 2009. Worth more than RM50 million with a built-up erea of 23,226 square metres, it is the largest of all UTCs in the country after Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Pahang and Perak. The Kedah UTC is open from 8.30am to 10pm daily, except for public holidays. For Atikah Abdul Wahab, 18, a student at Kolej Poly Tech Mara (KPTM), the UTC facilitates her daily activities as it was in close proximity to the college. "The UTC is near KPTM so it's easy for me as a student. I don't need to go anywhere else because everything is here and there are so many services which can help me," she told Bernama. Another UTC user, M. Hemalatha, 20, said that UTC was useful as all services could be found under one roof. "All services are here, from water, electricity, 1Malaysia clinic and shopping centre. Parking is also not a problem," she said, adding she hoped the services would continue in the future. Meanwhile, a trader at the UTC, Muhamad Faisal Mohd Zain, 40, said doing business at the UTC was profitable as it was a centre of attraction for the public. "The UTC is good for traders like me because our businesses are more profitable compared to before. More people will be aware of business in the future," he said.