IPOH: There will be at least 500 jobs available when a glass factory is set up in Ulu Kinta, near here, says Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.

       The Perak Mentri Besar said the factory is the first in the state to process silica into glass.

       "The state, through the Perak State Development Corporation (PKNPk), has signed a memorandum of understanding with Jinjing Silicon Technology Sdn Bhd to work together to build the built-to-suit and lease (BTSL) processing factory.

       "The factory will be built on a 4.8ha of land belonging to PKNPk in Kanthan and is scheduled to operate by 2023," he told reporters at the State Secretariat Building here on Wednesday (April 27).

       Saarani said the state was targeting RM100mil in early investment for processing and producing quartz and silica-based minerals.

       Separately, Saarani said the state has no say in Perak FC fans who are collecting signatures to hand a memorandum to Sultan Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah.

       "The state can't stop the fans from doing so but I hope they will use the proper channels," he said, adding that the state had given a RM50,000 donation to 50 Perak FC players and officers to help them prepare for Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

       On Feb 21, Saarani said the state could not be constantly helping in the now-privatised Perak FC with its financial woes.

       The Bos Gaurus, now owned by advertising company Impact Media & Communication (IMC) Sdn Bhd, was recently slapped with a transfer ban in February by FIFA after failing to settle debts amounting to RM1.7mil involving salary claims by former key players and payments to players' agents.