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State Leaders Confident 9MP Can Intensify Growth

Source: Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 (Bernama) -- Menteris besar and chief ministers interviewed expressed confidence that the Ninth Malaysia Plan tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on Friday can expedite Malaysia's progress into a developed nation by 2020.

The plan, tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, provides for an allocation of RM200 billion for development expenditure. Of the amount, 44.9 per cent goes to development projects under the economic sector, 37.5 per cent for the social sector; 10.6 per cent for security and 6.9 per cent for general administration.

In KOTA BAHARU, Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat described as good news the large allocation for the state which he said could enable Kelantan to implement development projects yet to be carried out.

Under the plan, PAS-ruled Kelantan is set to receive RM7.6 billion, up by 300 per cent from the allocation under the eighth plan.

"It is hoped that this allocation will help to improve the infrastructure that has been lacking in Kelantan since the days of the British era," Nik Aziz said, adding that the state appreciated the decision of the federal government to build a university in Kelantan.

In PENANG, Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said the second bridge connecting Penang island to the mainland and a monorail were huge gifts that were vital for the state government's efforts to enhance economic and social development.

He said the people of the state had been looking forward to these two projects to help alleviate traffic congestion and improve public transportation.

Koh said they were important infrastructure projects for the peninsula's northern region development corridor that also encompassed Kedah, Perak and Perlis.

He also said that the monorail route had been identified 18 months ago and that the monorail would be the basis for the public transportation system from Georgetown to Bayan Lepas in the future.

The monorail would have two main routes, from Tanjung Tokong to Bayan Lepas via Jalan Masjid Negeri-Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah-Bayan Lepas International Airport and Weld Quay-Komtar-Jalan Datuk Keramat-Jalan Air Hitam-Paya Terubong.

In IPOH, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali said the opening of the National Food Terminal (Teman) in Simpang Pulai would play an active role as a catalyst for development of the agricultural sector not only in the state but neighbouring states as well.

He said the setting up of the terminal would drive agricultural activities such as vegetable farming, orchards, poultry rearing and prawn and freshwater fish breeding.

Perak, which was a major supplier of broiler chickens and ducks and eggs as well as aquaculture products, would definitely see intensive growth in the agricultural sector, he said.

In KANGAR, Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said the identification of the state as an integrated "halal" hub would benefit about 30 million people in the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT).

He said the integrated "halal" hub was a part of the main component of the food and "halal" hub development in the peninsula's northern zone covering Kedah, Perlis, Seberang Perai (Penang) and northern Perak.

In KUANTAN, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob described the ninth plan as comprehensive.

He said it touched on the economy, knowledge and innovation, methods to bridge the socio-economic gap, quality of life and the public service delivery system.

In ALOR STAR, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the development of the northern development corridor and expansion of the Kulim High-Tech Park would intensify growth of the industrial sector in the state.

He said Kedah, which received an allocation of RM8.9 billion, also gained in terms of eradication of poverty, agricultural development and the tourism sector.

In MELAKA, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Ali Rustam said the ninth plan emphasised balanced development between regions and urban and rural areas.

"I am optimistic that the ninth plan will be able to generate higher economic growth than the eighth plan because much emphasis is being given to development human capital, education and training," he said.

In KUALA TERENGGANU, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said the emphasis given by the federal government to balanced development in all regions as well as the east coast states would drive fast economic growth.

"This move by the government will expedite the progress of the east coast states towards achieving the target of zero poverty," he said in Short Messaging Service (SMS) to Bernama