VentureTECH’s PEMACU Komuniti Programme to build modular water treatment plants for Perlis villagers

KANGAR, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- VentureTECH Sdn Bhd together with its investee company ACME Chemicals (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd handed over a Modular Water Treatment Plant to the residents of Batu Bertangkup.

This project is in conjunction with the PEMACU Komuniti Programme which is a Community Outreach Programme by Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) and VentureTECH.

The project aims to apply technology-driven services and products that can have direct impacts on the community segments in need, especially the B40 and vulnerable groups.

The handover is the first project implemented under the PEMACU Komuniti Programme and is carried out in collaboration with Yayasan Tuanku Syed Putra (YTSP) and Majlis Agama Islam dan Adat Istiadat Melayu Perlis (MAIPs).

Another Modular Water Treatment Plant will be handed over to the residents of Tanah Timbul under this programme which brings the total value of the project to RM2.5 million.

Funds channelled by VentureTECH in the project enable ACME Chemicals to apply its innovative water treatment solutions through the construction of a mobile Compact Modular Unit, which treats well water through the process of physical filtration, chemical treatment and the use of ACME Chemicals’ internally-developed technology that features its speciality in-house adsorption technology, known as Granular Adsorption Media (GAM).

This presents a holistic solution to the issue of water scarcity for local residents through a more cost-effective and efficient water supply treatment approach.

The supply of clean water meets the Drinking Water Quality Standard and is estimated to be distributed to five villages housing around 160 houses and a total of 1,300 residents, most of whom belong to the asnaf category.

The modular water treatment plant developed by ACME Chemicals is equipped with an automation system using IR4.0 technology which is an advanced sensor to provide automatic control for the entire water treatment plant, thus allowing the monitoring and maintenance of the treatment plant to be done in a remote control mode, making the whole system more efficient and cost-effective.

This coordination guarantees continuous water supply and reduces any issues during maintenance.

The handover ceremony was officiated by the Crown Prince of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail at Kampung Lubuk Machang yesterday.

"I am very pleased that the state of Perlis has been selected as the site of the first PEMACU Komuniti Programme project in Malaysia.

"I applaud the great collaboration involving VentureTECH's joint effort with its investee company ACME Chemicals (M) Sdn. Bhd, MAIPs, and Yayasan Tuanku Syed Putra Perlis," Tuanku Syed Faizuddin said.

He said this initiative is a form of pure endeavour and illustrates the concern of corporate bodies in improving the well-being of the people, especially the target communities of villages in this country, to ensure that they receive ideal basic needs, particularly clean and quality water supply.

Deputy director-general (Policy), Economic Planning Unit (EPU), Datuk Dr Zunika Mohamed who was also present at the event welcomed the joint effort between the public and private sectors in the PEMACU Komuniti Programme, which reflects the concept of a whole-of-nation approach. This Modular Water Treatment Plant initiative complements the national agenda of eradicating extreme poverty through the implementation of the Keluarga Malaysia Hardcore Poverty Eradication Programme (BMTKM) in the 12th Malaysia Plan in the Batu Bertangkup locality and surrounding areas.

“It is EPU’s hope that this collaboration can be the role model for the involvement of the private sector in the government’s various initiatives and national agenda, thus triggering more private sector participation of this kind in the future for the well-being of the people, especially the people of Perlis,” she added.

MIGHT co-chairman Tan Sri Dr Ahmad Tajuddin Ali said the PEMACU Komuniti Programme supports MIGHT's efforts, which emphasise the development of social innovation in dealing with the socio-economic challenges of the local community.

"VentureTECH's investment with ACME Chemicals' technological expertise and cooperation from YTSP and MAIPs is a smart, strategic and holistic partnership that can improve the quality of life and well-being of the villagers and the general public," he said.

VentureTECH managing director Dr Norida Abd Rahman said The PEMACU Komuniti Programme is in line with VentureTECH’s impact investment principle which promotes the use of expertise and in-house technology as well as local products to build a more competitive and sustainable local industry, further creating socio-economic spillovers including the provision of skilled jobs to the community in an inclusive manner.

ACME Chemicals managing director Fouzi Yunus said ACME Chemicals has studied and designed a water treatment plant with a modular and compact concept to provide a more comprehensive and integrated solution for water supply.

“We believe this system can help areas that are facing challenges, especially in the areas of space, electricity supply and transportation,” he said.

-- BERNAMA