LANGKAWI, Tues. - The Kedah Government has bought over several troubled hotels on this island under a joint-venture project to turn the buildings into training centres.

 
The Tiara and Gates hotel buildings, bought by the Kedah State Economic Development Corporation for RM45 million from Pengurusan Danaharta Nasional Berhad (Danaharta), will train mariners and tourism industry workers.

 
A third centre to serve as a prison warder training facility is also in the works.

 
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Syed Razak Syed Zain said the projects were a joint venture between the State Government and Halim Mazmin Holdings-owned HM Capital Sdn Bhd, the Home Ministry and Universiti Utara Malaysia.

 
The Tiara Hotel will be turned into the Adventure Wilderness centre run by Langkawi Permai Sdn Bhd - owned by both SEDC and TM Capital on a 20:80 per cent basis.

 
Syed Razak, who was speaking after the soft-launch of the Langkawi Aerospace Training Centre (LATC) in Padang Matsirat here yesterday, said TM Capital was now involved with the Education Ministry to run a five-year adventure wilderness programme, which started in March, for schoolchildren.

 
Both the Home Ministry and UUM will share the premise at the Gates Hotel to train prison wardens and tourism workers.