Kuala lumpur: The proposed University of Kuala Lumpur Asia Sustainable Transportation Institute (UniKL-ASTI) in Lembah Chuping is set to play a pivotal role in the logistics development ecosystem within the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), according to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the university campus, strategically located next to the Perlis Inland Port (PIP), aims to establish Perlis as a vital logistics hub in the northern region. The campus will offer an array of high-impact Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) diploma and degree courses, including heavy vehicle maintenance technology, lifting equipment management, and MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) technology.
Ahmad Zahid highlighted the significance of UniKL-ASTI as a strategic initiative for both Perlis and the national education and logistics sectors. He expressed confidence that the industry-oriented approach would produce skilled TVET graduates ready for the job market and contribute to the economic growth of the state and the nation.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the UniKL-ASTI project at Dewan Warisan, officiated by the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, Ahmad Zahid emphasized the project’s role in strengthening higher technical education focused on sustainable transportation and logistics. The event was also graced by the Raja Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail, the Raja Puan Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Dr Hajah Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil, and other dignitaries.
The Deputy Prime Minister, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, noted that the university’s establishment underscores the MADANI Government’s commitment, through Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), to enhancing the National TVET Agenda. It also aims to expand high-impact education access for rural communities and position Perlis as a competitive state in the regional transportation and logistics sector.
Ahmad Zahid also mentioned that the PIP mega project, linked with the new infrastructure, is expected to drive cross-border cargo movement between Malaysia and Thailand, with trade value projected to hit USD30 billion (RM132 billion) by 2027. The UniKL-ASTI project is currently in the final design phase, with construction starting soon after the groundbreaking ceremony, and is slated for completion by June 25, 2028.
The project will be executed using the design-and-build method, with the Public Works Department as the implementing agency, while MARA, under the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW), will act as the client agency. Ahmad Zahid expressed hopes that the project would be completed on time, within budget, and according to an efficient design, adding significant value to Perlis’s development.