Construction of Malaysia’s “Rubber City” in Padang Terap is set to begin next year, said Datuk Dr Ku Abdul Rahman Ku Ismail, state Industry and Investment, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs Committee Chairman.
The city would be an industrial area focused on rubber production and will house tyre, glove, and other rubber-centric industries.
RM400mn is allotted for land acquisition and infrastructure development, according to the Finance Ministry. The city will stand on 400ha of land in Bukit Ketapang in Padang Terap. The project was originally planned to be in Durian Burung but was relocated due to rough terrain.
The government aims to launch the city in 2017. Thailand and Indonesia are also taking interest in investing in the city.
Kedah’s Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Mukhriz Tun Mahathir shared that Indonesia suggests the Rubber City soon develop into a “Rubber Corridor” that would link the three countries together.
“This is an interesting idea that perhaps could be studied in depth,” he said during the last Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Summit held April this year.
The Rubber City is part of the state’s six iconic projects including the Kedah Science and Technology Park (KSTP), Kulim International Airport (KXP), Kedah Aerocity, Sungai Petani-Kedah Inner Expressway (SPIKE) and Kedah Medical Science City.