Johor Bahru, 24 June – UniversitiTeknologi Malaysia (UTM) has been appointed by the Johor state administration to implement a State-widestudycalled “SuaraHati Johor”.

During the launch at Kota Iskandar, Nusajaya on 17 June, the MenteriBesar of Johor, Datuk Seri Mohamed KhaledNordin said that the study serves as a platform to strengthen and accelerate the development of the state of Johor through open and constructive dialogue with the public.

The study will be conducted through both quantitative and qualitative methods by a team of researchers and students led by the UTM Deputy Vice Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), Prof. Dr. Mohd Ismail Abd Aziz. It targets to reach out to approximately 8,000 respondents in all 10 districts of Johor for a period of 100 days.

The study is one of the many ways where UTM has made an impact in the Iskandar Malaysia region. Being a graduate-focused research university, UTM plays important role in terms of intensifying research and development activities within Iskandar Malaysia, such as the Iskandar Malaysia Low Carbon City research in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Iskandar Malaysia Regional Authority (IRDA), as well as producing highly skilled professionals that will contribute to socioeconomic development of the region.

The study is expected to produce useful output that would inform the Johor state administration on the needs, expectations and issues of concern of the people.

Those interested in participating in the study can access the online survey at http://bit.ly/SuaraHatiJOHOR on all computer and mobile devices. The research team will also visit the districts in Johor in stages during the 100-day period to conduct interviews with people on the ground as part of the data gathering process.