Abdul Ghani quizzed over Iskandar project

Wednesday November 26, 2008

Abdul Ghani quizzed over Iskandar project
By MEERA VIJAYAN

JOHOR BARU: Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman was bombarded with questions over the multi-billion-ringgit Iskandar Malaysia project.

Among others, he was asked to explain what was special about the Iskandar corridor when the country had several other corridors including the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) and the East Coast Economic Region (ECER).

Responding to Datuk Dr Hasni Mohammad (BN – Benut), Abdul Ghani said that Johor had the advantage of being strategically located, something Singapore had used to its advantage all these years.

Abdul Ghani pointed out that Johor was the leading exporter of various commodities and food products, but admitted that there was room for improvement within the service and tourism sectors.

“I promise you that within three years we will have everything in Iskandar, including the largest retail space in the region,” he said.

When Dr Boo Cheng Hau (DAP–Skudai) asked the status of the proposed Disneyland theme park within Iskandar, Abdul Ghani told the assembly that an announcement would be made mid next month in connection with a theme park.

Abdul Ghani also said that the greatest challenge Iskandar faced was in ensuring adequate manpower to fill up vacancies.

“We are happy to take in Malaysians who get retrenched from Singapore if they have the necessary skills, as long as they don’t go back to Singapore once the economy improves,” he said.

Meanwhile, Gwee Tong Hiang (DAP–Bentayan) urged the state to save money by terminating the Mentri Besar’s six special officers in view of the looming financial crisis.

Gwee said that it would save the state government RM237,600 in a year as it would not have to pay the officers their RM3,300 monthly allowance.

At that point, Speaker Datuk Ali Hassan interrupted to ask whether the Mentri Besar’s officers in Pakatan Rakyat led states had special officers who were paid a monthly allowance.

To that, Gwee quipped that Mentri Besars in those states did not have special officers who were paid allowances as they served for free.

- Malaysian Star -