Selangor, Kedah Forge Strategic Collaboration To Enhance Utility Infrastructure Management

SHAH ALAM, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- The Selangor and Kedah governments, through the Selangor Utility Corridor (KUSEL) and Utiliti Infra Darul Aman (UiDA), are forging a strategic collaboration for more integrated utility infrastructure management and development.

The collaboration between the two agencies, which focuses on sharing expertise, technology, service networks and advisory support, will enable KUSEL to provide guidance and support to UiDA in enhancing knowledge on strategic utility infrastructure management.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the collaboration was signed today by KUSEL managing director Khairul Azmi Misran and UiDA chief executive officer Ahmad Taufik Radzi, witnessed by menteris besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.

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Amirudin said that the strategic partnership between the two agencies, responsible for the utility corridors and databases, allows both parties to share experiences and expertise, given the differences in geography, land structure and economic development between the two states.

He noted that development planning in each state faces the common issue of imperfect utility management in terms of record-keeping, which results in significantly increased development costs and delays in project implementation.

"Our experience in Selangor has shown that the cost of infrastructure development can sometimes increase up to tenfold due to the lack of a proper utility plan. This inspired us to establish KUSEL around three years ago, with the role of coordinating and managing utility corridors and facilitating the utility permit application process in Selangor.

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In Selangor, the situation is quite complex because we have densely built areas, and I believe this collaboration will allow KUSEL and UiDA to work in tandem to develop utility infrastructure in their respective areas through information and expertise sharing," he said at a press conference following the MoU signing.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Sanusi said that utility mapping is crucial to ensure that developments, such as road construction and water pipeline installations, are not disrupted or delayed due to the need to manage utility infrastructure issues first when excavation work begins.

"Utility mapping must be done thoroughly because otherwise, many tasks will be delayed. The conditions at the site or project location often do not match what is shown on paper due to discrepancies between utility records and current developments.

This issue is prevalent in Kedah, which is why we came to learn from Selangor, one of the most challenging states in terms of utility management, especially underground utilities," he said.

KUSEL managing director Khairul Azmi Misran noted that this collaboration stemmed from a visit by the Kedah Menteri Besar Corporation and UiDA to the agency last June, which will undoubtedly benefit both agencies as well as the general public.

With the vision of developing utility infrastructure in their respective areas more efficiently, he is confident that KUSEL’s expertise and experience in managing utilities in Selangor will provide valuable guidance and support to UiDA in its role as a coordinator for utility infrastructure development in Kedah.

-- BERNAMA