103 Projects Implemented At Economic Corridors, Says Najib

July 02, 2009 21:16 PM

103 Projects Implemented At Economic Corridors, Says Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 (Bernama) -- A total of 103 or 46 per cent of the 224 projects listed for implementation at the five regional development corridors have started, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak told the Dewan Rakyat Thursday.

He said some of the projects were at initial stage such as environmental impact assessment, design evaluation, land surveying and site preparation.

"In terms of projects that have been started according to economic corridors, Iskandar Malaysia has recorded 100 per cent and Northern Corridor Economic Region has registered 43 per cent," he said in his written reply to Hee Loy Sian (PKR-Petaling Jaya Selatan).

Hee wanted to know the progress of the economic corridors initiated by former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and whether the government would continue with the corridor projects.

Najib said 45 per cent of the projects slated for the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) have been started, Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) 28 per cent and 100 projects at Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

"As of now investments received via signing of contracts for all the five regional development corridors totalled RM155.71 billion or 7.4 per cent higher as compared to the RM145 billion targeted investment under the Mid-Term Review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan," he said.

The Prime Minister said the government would continue with regional development corridor initiative to address development imbalances in states and regions.

"This approach will build on the present advantage in the development areas and will be expanded to potential areas within the corridor areas and focus on optimising the available resources to the fullest," he said.

Najib said the development programmes would ensure the locals benefited from creation of jobs, business opportunities and provision of facilities to boost income and improve the people's standard of living.

"In the long-term, the government believes the spin-offs from the projects will be accepted by the people from all strata of society including people in the rural areas," he added.

-- BERNAMA