Yearly list for 10MP projects

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PUTRAJAYA: Projects under the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP) will be announced on a yearly basis to ensure smooth implementation and to allow for financial adjustments.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said starting June 2010 when the plan is announced, the Government would lay out details of projects to kick off in the next two years.

“For instance, next year, projects that will be implemented in 2011 and 2012 will be made public, while in 2011, we will announce projects meant for 2013 and 2014.

“This way, the Government will not be flooded with too many project proposals by ministries and state governments as there will be other opportunities for them to submit requests instead of a one-time-only offer,” he told reporters yesterday.

He said when the Government was formulating the 9th Malaysia Plan, 29,000 project proposals were submitted, adding that staggering the project announcement would allow authorities time to study its viability and importance.

With just eight months to go before the tabling of the 10MP in Parliament on June 10 next year, he said discussions were being scheduled to seek views from various authorities including state governments on vital development.

Nor Mohamed has held discussions with the Perlis, Perak, Penang and Kedah state governments, and development proposals received include better transportation for Penang and enhanced water supply and irrigation at the Muda Agriculture Development Authority (Mada) in Kedah.

Perlis has asked for better infrastructure to help boost its economy, such as a new jetty in Kuala Perlis, while the Perak government is hoping to get more companies to invest in the state to minimise migration.

“Equal importance is given to all states and during my discussions with them, I assured the Pakatan Rakyat-led governments that they would not be left out of the 10MP,” he said, declining to reveal the total cost of the national plan.

The 10MP is crucial as it is the first step towards making Malaysia a developed nation by 2020, he added.