PUTRAJAYA, Oct 12 (Bernama) -- The Economic Planning Unit under the Prime Minister's Department will not forsake the needs of opposition-ruled states when drawing up the 10th Malaysia Plan to be tabled in Parliament next June.
In giving this assurance, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said, the federal government would ensure fair distribution of people-centric projects to all states under the five-year plan.
"We will ensure that the plan contains a fair distribution of projects...obviously, the bigger states would have a bigger allocation but we will be equal in distribution," he told reporters after meeting representatives of the Perak Government at the unit Monday.
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had, on numerous occasions, reiterated that the federal government would be inclusive in attending to the needs of opposition-held states.
"Whether we agree with their inputs or otherwise, is not important but what is important is for us to get the input from them in the first place.
"So far, I have met a few menteris besar of these opposition-held states and they are so far, satisfied with what we have told them. They felt assured and we are looking at viable projects in these states," he added.
The minister also said that to date, he had met representatives of the Perlis, Kedah, Pulau Pinang and Perak governments and that he was satisfied with dialogues held with them.
He said the 10th Malaysia Plan would roll out projects that were people-centric, which would give high impact on the lives of the people.
"For example, Perak. They want us to give priority to tourism and tourism-based industries because they are interested in nature-based tourism. We can leverage on the good infrastructure available in the state to achieve this aim.
"We also have to remember that the Plan would be based on the new national economic model with priority on high income base. We are meeting the state representatives because we want to know what they have in mind for the state," added Nor Mohamed.
He said the draft of the Plan would only be ready sometime next year, and submitted to the Cabinet for approval and subsequently tabled in Parliament.
He however, declined to reveal the amount which would fund the 10th Malaysia Plan, saying "that is confidential and would be revealed at the tabling of the Plan."
He said, unlike the previous Plans, the 10th Malaysia Plan, which was deemed important in achieving the 2020 Vision, would only outline projects on a two-year revolving basis.
"This means (that) when we table the Plan next year, we would only announce projects for 2011 and 2012. After 2012, we would again announce projects for another two years.
"This gives us flexibility in giving priority to projects. This will also take away the pressure from government agencies and ministries to submit their respective projects for five years. They only have to submit proposed projects for two years and have time to revaluate their position after the two years," said Nor Mohamed.
-- BERNAMA
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