IPOH – The first phase of the rubber glove factory in the Integrated Glove City Development Project in Bidor, Batang Padang is expected to be completed and start operating in the first quarter of 2023.
Perak Industry, Investment and Corridor Development Committee chairman Datuk Shahrul Zaman Yahya said Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd had obtained planning permission, and engineering and building plan approval from the Tapah district council.
He said earthworks were underway at the project site, to be followed by construction of the building and its supporting infrastructure.
“To ensure the smooth running of the project, a centre of investment working committee (COI@Glove City) has been set up, which is chaired by myself, while InvestPerak acts as the secretariat.
“The relevant departments and technical agencies are also members of COI@Glove City, to jointly monitor the progress of the project on a regular basis and meet to find immediate solutions to any problems encountered in the implementation of this project,” he told the Perak state assembly sitting here today
He said this when replying to an oral question from Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu (Bersatu-Chenderiang) who wanted to know the development status of the project on 333ha of land, which was first planned in 2018 with an investment value of RM1.5 billion.
Shahrul, who is also the Rungkup assemblyman, said based on information from the company, 5,000 to 6,000 job opportunities are estimated to be created when the factory starts operating.
He said the company would prioritise local recruitment in ensuring more accessible manpower to meet factory operation needs.
“In fact, the company will use modern technological equipment in the operation of the factory, which can reduce dependence on general labour, especially involving migrants.
“We also expect that the development of a large industrial area like this will have a positive impact on the local economy, including an increase in business activities such as restaurants, grocery stores, and other essential service businesses, which will indirectly open new employment opportunities for locals,” he said.
On high-impact investment projects approved and planned to be implemented in Batang Padang, Shahrul said based on Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) data, five investment projects in the manufacturing sector have been approved for the district, with investment value totalling about RM 87.8 million from 2017 to last year.
According to him, for the services sector, there are four projects that have been approved by Mida for the same period with an investment value of about RM229 million.
Meanwhile, Shahrul also said that Gas Malaysia Bhd is currently in the process of constructing a natural gas pipeline that will connect Changkat Jong to Bidor to meet the Kossan plant’s natural gas needs, and that the state government is working with Gas Malaysia Bhd to extend the alignment to Proton City, Tanjung Malim.
He said the natural gas pipeline would cross areas with potential for industrial development in Batang Padang, and that the natural gas infrastructure facilities would increase opportunities to attract industry players to open their industrial operations in the district. – Bernama, August 26, 2021
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