Tanjung Malim's landscape changing with 1MYC, Proton

TANJUNG MALIM: The government's initiative in turning Tanjung Malim into a pioneer 1Malaysia Youth City (1MYC) has succeeded in transforming the quiet town into a vibrant development centre.
Tanjung Malim has already experienced a boom with the opening of the manufacturing plant of the national car, Proton which brought various benefits to the local community especially in terms of employment opportunities.
A teacher, Nur Emilia Azmi, 35, said the dynamic development of Tanjung Malim had met the needs of youths as it helped to reduce migration to bigger towns.
"The government's initiative in developing the district will provide opportunities for youths to improve themselves in employment, entrepreneurship and skills in all the programmes implemented thus far," she told Bernama here recently.
Nur Emilia said apart from these openings, the people had also benefited from better infrastructure such as schools, clinics and public transport.

A Univerisiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) student, Norsiana Nasir, 25, said the development in the town had also brought positive effects to youths especially higher education institution students through various programmes and events for them.
She said for instance, the Food Truck Festival had exposed students to entrepreneurship apart from ''The Nest'' which is an art hub.
"Music students are now putting up presentations at The Nest to obtain better grades. I have also been there to pick up cooking skills and customer service tips," said the UPSI Technical and Vocational Faculty Living Skills final year student.
She added that students in automotive studies could also obtain references and undergo practical training at Proton's factory in Proton City.
For Muallim District Youth Council chairman Azhari Abdullah, the efforts to promote Tanjung Malim as a youth city were being carried out by various parties including the Malaysian Youth Council, Perak Youth Council, Muallim Youth Council as well as the Youth and Sports Ministry.

"The district is suitable to be developed as a youth and automotive city. I believe Tanjung Malim will become a rapidly developing town like other major urban centres," he said.
Meanwhile Tanjung Malim District Council president Mohd Syukri Azaari said Tanjung Malim was poised to further benefit from the strategic cooperation between Proton Holding Bhd (Proton) and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely) of China.
"We hope to collect RM20 million more in revenue soon.
"The number of residents is also expected to increase to 100,000 as soon as the expansion of Proton comes on stream compared to 70,000 now and 40,000 people before the automotive industry set foot in this area," he said.
Perak Mentri Besar, Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir had earlier said the national car manufacturer would continue to be the thrust in the development plan of South Perak Region (WPS) in Tanjung Malim.
He said the state was now finalising the WPS development plan starting from Tanjung Malim to Bagan Datuk as a new economic corridor.
He said the proposed development in the area for the short term and 30 years from now would be submitted to the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) for further action. — Bernama