KUALA LUMPUR: The government has allocated RM2.3 billion to develop Bagan Datuk under the 10th and 11th Malaysia Plan, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.
He said the funds, approved by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, are being channelled through various ministries and agencies involving nine clusters of development that included education, tourism, safety, sports, health, religion, connectivity, industrial and housing.
He said the high impact projects are being done for the sake of the people and ensure security of the next generation.
"This is our preparation for the next 32 years (National Transformation 2050).
"What we are doing now is not for us but for our grandchildren.
"This is the mandate of the prime minister. This is not for me but for the voters," he said at the National Transformation Aspiration Ceremony 2050 (TN50) @Bagan Datuk at MAEPS here, today.
Among the projects completed so far were Bagan Datuk Jetty, Bagan Datuk Waterfront and children’s recreational park in Hutan Melintang.
Under the education cluster, two religious schools namely Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Bagan Datuk and Sekolah Menengah Tahfiz Darul Ridzuan are in the development process.
"The schools are expected to complete in 2020. The Sekolah Kebangsaan can house 750 students while the tahfiz school can house 1,000 students.
"Bagan Datuk community can also expect a digital library to be built soon," he said.
Zahid said, to boost the industrial sector, a tuna processing factory will be built offering about 2,000 job opportunities.
"Also an agreement has been made with Tan Chong Motors Holdings Bhd to locate their automotive hub in Bagan Datuk that will indirectly open about 4,000 job opportunities," he added.
The ongoing projects include the Bagan Datuk Polytechnic, Bagan Datuk Peoples Housing Project which is expected to be completed in 2021, Bagan Datuk police headquarters, army camp in Hutan Melintang, Bagan Datuk Hospital and clinics, and Bagan Datuk Sports Complex among others.
Also in the early stages of development were Bagan Datuk Heavy Industrial Park which would take about 10 to 15 years to complete.
Zahid also said other plans in the pipeline were the underground tunnel from Bagan Datuk to Sumatera, Indonesia.
He said the project was being planned through a private initiative involving an investment of US$20 billion (RM78 billion), which is seen to further enhance connectivity between the two countries as well as Southeast Asia.
"Basically, the plan has already been approved but its implementation is still too early to say.
"Bagan Datuk is also being nominated as the preferred location on the peninsula for the project as the underground tunnel is to be connected with the West Coast Highway, expected to be completed by 2020.
"In terms of physical study, the project has been approved on a policy basis but still needs EIA assessment as well as interested investors need to get the permission of the Malaysian and Indonesian governments," he said.
Zahid also announced an early allocation of RM250,000 to groom youths in Bagan Datuk to be involved in sports.
Bagan Datuk is the 12th district in Perak after Kinta, Larut Matang and Selama, Manjung, Hilir Perak, Kerian, Batang Padang, Kuala Kangsar, Perak Tengah, Hulu Perak, Kampar and Muallim.