INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES

Perak offers complete and modern infrastructure facilities which allow companies to readily access the expanding international market. In fact, most of the manufacturing industries are exporting their finished products directly to the international market.

A full complement of export services, including customhouse brokers and freight forwarding companies are available in Perak.

Transportation Road

Perak is easily accessible from the rest of Peninsular Malaysia via a well-established network of roads and highways, The State has a fine network of roads covering over 3,OOOkm, connecting all major towns and rural areas, The North-South trunk road, known also as Federal Route l, runs through the state, linking most major towns.

The North-South Highway (operated by PLUS), cuts through Perak, linking Parit Buntar in the north and Tanjung Malim in the south. It takes only two hours from Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh and one hour forty-five minutes between Ipoh and Penang.

Meanwhile, The East-West Highway connects Grik in Perak to Jell in Kelantan, effectively shortening the distance between Ipoh and the East Coast capitals by as much as 900km. The East-West Highway stretches between Simpang Pulai, Ipoh to Gua Musang, Kelantan and connects through Kampung Raja and Cameron Highlands.

In addition, the Coastal Road linking Port Klang, Selangor to Taiping via Teluk Intan and Sitiawan has also been upgraded.

New expressways in the pipeline include;
1. A link between Banting in Selangor and Taiping in Perak.
2. The Ipoh-Lumut Expressway

Rail

Apart from the roads and highways, Perak can also be accessible by rail. With rail tracks stretching about 262km in Perak itself, the railway provides an efficient means of transport for passengers and cargo. The railway has effectively contributed towards the social and economic growth of most states in Peninsular Malaysia.

Air

The Sultan Azlan Shah Airport, located in Perak's capital city of Ipoh, caters for domestic flights provided by Malaysian Airline System (MAS). Direct flights are available daily between Ipoh and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

Sea

The Lumut Port in Manjung, Perak, provides sea transportation services to the Penang Port in the North of Peninsular Malaysia, Port Klang in Central Peninsula and the Pasir Gudang and Singapore ports in the South as well as to Belawan in Sumatera.

Ipoh Cargo Terminal (I.C.T)

The Ipoh Cargo Terminal, located in the heart of Ipoh City within the Kinta Valley, is an inland or 'dry" port, providing the whole range of facilities and logistical services, similar to those provided by any seaport. It is an extension of port facilities into the hinterland and is an authorized port, used for both exports and imports by many of the major and small scale industries.

Electricity Supply

Electricity supply for domestic and industrial requirements in Perak is reliable and adequate to meet all needs. Electricity is supplied through the National Electricity Board. Power is chanelled through a National Grid of 275 KV and 132 KV which extends from the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia down to the southern tip.

The State presently has 11 power stations: 1 gas fired, 1 combined cycle of gas and coal, 7 hydro, 1 diesel and 1 steam-generated. The largest hydro-power station is the Jana Manjung station, one of the largest in South-East Asia with a total generating capacity of 3,000 megawatts.

Water Supply

The potable water in Perak is supplied and managed by the Perak Water Board (Lembaga Air Perak). The operations of the Board are handled by the regional offices.

Perak has rainfall ranging between 1,778mm to 3,048mm annually. This amount of rainfall, combined with the appropriate chemical treatment of water, provides ample water supply for the state's domestic and industrial purposes.

There are 44 water treatment plants in operation throughout the state of Perak with a combined maximum design production capacity of approximately 1,200 million litres per day. Of these 44 plants, 2 plants have been privatised to Metropolitan Utilities Corporation Sdn. Bhd. under the Greater Ipoh II Scheme and another 2 plants to GSL Water Sdn. Bhd. under the Kerian, Larut Matang II Scheme. Both concessions were awarded in 1989 and have a concession period of 20 years.

Telecommunication Services

A full range of nationwide and worldwide telecommunication services is provided by Syarikat Telekom Malaysia, comprising:

Telephone Services:
International Subscriber Dialling (ISD) provides direct dialling to over 160 countries.

Radio Services:
Automatic telephone using radio (ATUR), High Frequency Radio Call Service (HFRCS) and Radio Leased Channel.

Message Services: Telegram, Telex, Telefax.

Data & Information Services:
Datel, Maypac, Telita, Private Leased Circuits. Data Centre, Wired & Wireless Broadband.

Maritime Services:
Radio Maritime Services; Maritime Satellite Communication Services.

International Services:
Intelstat Business Services (IBS); Radio and TV transmission via Palapa and Intersat Satellite; Digitaline provides data transmission, still video images, high speed facsimile and video conferencing.