KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 9 — The 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) will focus on six less developed states — Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Sabah and Sarawak.
Economy Ministry deputy secretary-general policy Datuk Zunika Mohamed said focus will be given to these states to ensure the improvement of infrastructure such as roads, better connectivity including water supply, electricity, and other facilities such as health, housing and so on.
“For states that don’t belong to this group, it doesn’t mean the government doesn’t focus on them.
“Perhaps not (focused) in terms of large infrastructure projects but (we will be) more focused on programmes to increase income and ensure the well-being of the population and we want to see that marginalised communities in developing states are defended,” she told Bernama TV on the Malaysian Economy: Dive into People’s Hope programme.
Among the initiatives implemented by the Economy Ministry, led by Rafizi Ramli, are the People’s Income Initiative (IPR) for food entrepreneurs (Insan) and agricultural entrepreneurs (Intan).
The IPR, which includes three models — Insan, Intan and the Service Operator Initiative (Ikhsan), was launched on Februay 26 in an effort to grow the people’s income due to the increase in the cost of living.
Chief executive officer of the Institute for Development Studies Sabah Datuk Ramzah Dambul said the state deserves to be emphasised in the 12MP as it lags behind in terms of education and other basic facilities.
He said the World Bank has said Sabah is lagging behind.
“At least Perlis and Kedah can have access to the growth in Penang, and Kelantan and Terengganu are not too far from the Klang Valley.
“But Sabah and Sarawak are nowhere near (the location of economic growth) and (people) have to cross the South China Sea (to get there),” he said.
— Bernama
