KUALA LUMPUR – The 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) will continue to focus on the implementation of programmes to increase income and ensure people’s well-being, said Datuk Zunika Mohamed, deputy secretary-general (policy) of the Economy Ministry.
She stated, however, that the initiative’s implementation will be prioritised in six less-developed states, namely Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Sabah, and Sarawak.
The states will be tasked with ensuring the improvement of infrastructure facilities such as roads, better connectivity, including water supply, electricity, and other facilities such as healthcare, housing, and so on.
“This does not imply that the government is not focused on states that do not belong to this group.
“Perhaps not (focused) in terms of large infrastructure projects, but (we will be) more focused on programmes to increase income and ensure the population’s well-being.
“We want to see that marginalised communities in developing states are also defended,” she said on Bernama TV’s Malaysian Economy: Dive into People’s Hope programme.
Among the initiatives implemented by the Economy Ministry, led by minister Rafizi Ramli, are the People’s Income Initiative (IPR) for the Food Entrepreneur Initiative (Insan) and the Agricultural Entrepreneur Initiative (Intan).
The IPR, which includes three models, namely Insan, Intan, and the Service Operator Initiative (Ikhsan), was launched on February 26, 2023, in an effort to increase people’s income due to rising living costs.
Meanwhile, Datuk Ramzah Dambul, chief executive officer of the Institute for Development Studies in Sabah, said the state deserves to be highlighted in the 12MP because it lags behind in terms of education and other basic facilities.
“The state is said to be lagging behind, as referred to by the World Bank as a ‘lagging state’ (a state lagging behind in terms of growth and income). At least Perlis and Kedah can have access to the growth in Penang. 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. – September 9, 2023