The state is building a unique environmentally-friendly “city” in Bandar Meru Raya here that will be centrepiece of the city’s growth.
Dubbed the “Biodiversity (BioD) City”, an area of more than 3,200ha will be transformed into a hub of commercial complexes, parks, education institutes and residential areas.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the city would be built based on green concepts.
“The building materials used and design features, especially for the residential areas, will have environmentally-friendly aspects.”
The city would harness solar energy to reduce cost and maintenance, as well as have a high ratio of greenery to built-up areas, he said after launching the project yesterday.
BioD City would eventually become Ipoh’s centre for growth under the Ipoh Local Plan 2010-2020, he added.
“The city has generated more than RM1 billion in investments and will open up a wide scope of job opportunities for the people in the state and even those from other states.”
Senior state executive councillor Datuk Hamidah Osman and Datuk Bandar Datuk Roshidi Hashim witnessed the signing of six memorandums of understanding between Perak State Development Corporation (PSDC) and several private companies and government agencies.
Among the corporations roped in for the project is hypermarket giant Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd.
“The Mydin Wholesale Hypermarket & Shopping Mall at BioD City will cover more than 750,000 sq ft.
“When completed by the year’s end, it will be the largest Mydin branch in the country.”
He added that PSDC and the state Forestry Department had earmarked more than 2,000ha for the BioD Kledang Saiong Wilderness Park within the development.
He said the project was in line with the state’s vision to promote growth without compromising nature.
