RM6b kickstart for ECER (updated) 29 October 2007

RM6b kickstart for ECER (updated)

By WONG SAI WAN

KUALA TERENGGANU: Building on the strength of the East Coast’s natural resources, talents and heritage will be the basis to turn Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang into developed states by the year 2020.

The East Coast Economic Region (ECER) will use the rich oil and gas reserves, agriculture as well as the people’s trading tradition and craftsmanship to achieve this goal.

As a start, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced a RM6bil special allocation for the implementation of several “high impact” projects which were already identified in the region.

He is expected to give more details Tuesday when he launches the Pahang state-level of the ECER.

Abdullah said that in order for the ECER targets to become a reality, the governments and people of these three states – plus the district of Mersing in Northern Johor – must work together.

He pointed out that there should be no competition among the states, which represents 51% of the landmass of the peninsula, but instead they should complement each other.

“I have announced the formation of these development corridors when tabling the 9th Malaysia Plan and it is now becoming a reality in the East Coast.

“However, for the goals to be achieved there must be proper and quick implementation, without which all the plans will fail,” he said when launching the ECER here Monday.

Abdullah had earlier this year launched the Iskandar Development Region in Johor and the Northern Corridor Economic Region for Perlis, Kedah, Penang and Northern Perak.

He is expected to launch a similar economic corridor for Sarawak next month.

The STAR Online
Monday October 29, 2007
MYT 7:20:36 PM