Mara will build a Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) in Sik, Kedah in the middle of the year, according to its chairman Tan Sri Annuar Musa.

He said the selection of the site for the project was finalised two weeks ago.

"The new MRSM project will be implemented in Jeneri state constituency to balance the development in Sik," he said in a statement here yesterday.

He said the college, which would be able to accommodate 750 students, would be the 53rd MRSM nationwide and the seventh in Kedah.

Annuar said the college was expected to implement the Ulul Albab programme, which will integrate pure science and religious studies, including the memorising of Quran.

"This makes it the fifth MRSM to conduct such a programme after Gemencheh MRSM, Kota Putra MRSM, Kepala Batas MRSM and Sungai Besar MRSM," he said.

Annuar also expressed hope that the Sik MSRM could contribute towards turning out more corporate, professional, technocrat figures and leaders in numerous business fields based on science, technology, religion, arts, engineering and mathematics. -- BERNAMA