Work on MICE centre to start next month

RM37 million project will be built at the present site of the Bougainvillaea Park

A scaled model of Perak's first MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) centre being displayed in the Ipoh City Council lobby. Pic by Wong Tuck Keong

CONSTRUCTION of Perak's first MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) centre is expected to start  early next year. Mayor Datuk Roshidi Hashim said the technical committee for the RM37 million project funded by the state government had approved the building design and layout and has begun the final phase of reviewing the interior design. "The floor plan for the structure and design is on display for the public in the City Council building lobby. 

"We expect work to start in January next year," he told reporters after chairing the city council's monthly full board meeting. He said the work will be undertaken by state-appointed construction and engineering company, Sycal Bhd. Roshidi said the MICE centre, to be built at the site of the Bougainvillaea Park beside the city council building, is expected to be ready in two years and  accommodate more than 2,000 visitors at a time. 

"Among the first events to be held at the MICE centre after its launch in 2014 is the Tourism Promotion of Asia Pacific Cities as well as Perak's annual Home Exposition (Homex) 2014," he said. Meanwhile, Roshidi also announced that 40 e-Kasih kiosks would  be ready next year. He said the kiosks, which were built for selected entrepreneurs from poor backgrounds, will be placed in Buntong, Silibin, Ampang and Rapat Setia. 

Roshidi said RM400,000 was spent to build the kiosks, after which the ownership would be transferred to selected operators. "They comprise mostly food sellers of snacks like kacang putih and pisang goreng (fried banana fritters)," he said. "Several barbers have also been selected." Roshidi added that each operator would be given RM5,000 as start-up capital for their business. "Those chosen to take up the kiosks were from families which earned less than RM750 in their household. They were registered under the Welfare Department's e-Kasih scheme and underwent stringent interviews before being selected," he said.

-NST Online.