By P. Chandra Sagaran
Utility companies carrying out infrastructure projects in the city need not to be on loggerheads following the signing of a MoU between Ipoh City Council and Perak Darul Ridzuan Utility Corridor (KUDR) here recently.
Ipoh City Mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin@Md Daud represented Ipoh City Council while Datuk Redza Rafiq Abdul Razak who is KUDR Executive Director signed on behalf of the agency.
As of July 1 all applications to dig up roads under the jurisdiction of the council by utility companies to carry out their utility infrastructure work will have to submit their applications to KUDR online system (KUDRAT).
The agency has already received applications from utility companies like TNB, LAP and several telecommunication companies.
Ipoh City Council will not accept any applications from the companies, instead they have to submit them to KUDR.
Perak Infrastructure, Energy, Water and Public Transport Committee Chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin who witnessed the signing ceremony said the MoU is to streamline all work carried by the utility companies.
“This initiative is a new effort to realise Perak Sejahtera 2030 agenda and also technology to solve challenges faced in the utility industry including the Government.
“The objective of the state government is to enable a planned, controlled and systemic utility infrastructures,” he added.
The system would also be implemented in other local authorities in the state.
Meanwhile Rumaizi said this MoU would enable KUDR to process the planned work applications submitted by the companies for approval by the council.
The council would also furnish important data or information to KUDR to facilitate registration of the utility entities.