KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11 — The government has stressed that the main focus of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) has shifted from simply setting growth targets to implementing more effective mechanisms, said Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.
He said this is to ensure economic policies aren’t counter-productive to the people’s long-term well-being.
“That is why we are focusing on the 13MP implementation, so government policies will fill the gaps and achieve the aim of ‘raising the floor’ as best as possible,” he said during the question-and-answer session at the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was replying to a supplementary question from Jimmy Puah Wee Tse (Harapan-Tebrau) about the government’s efforts to “raise the floor”, or increase the people’s income, to boost their buying power.
Meanwhile, responding to a question from Datuk Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh (PN-Pasir Puteh) about the government’s commitment to developing the people’s economy and the East Coast, Akmal Nasrullah said the government would ensure infrastructure development is more balanced between the peninsular east and west by bolstering logistics, people’s mobility, and access to utilities.
He said the implementation of strategic infrastructure projects, such as the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), would catalyse transit-oriented development along the rail line, thereby improving logistics connectivity and driving industrial growth on the East Coast.
“A priority is also to strengthen the food supply chain, including via the operation of the Tok Bali Integrated Fisheries Park, the Rompin Integrated Pineapple Plantation Development, and the Jemaluang Dairy Valley in Mersing.
“Meanwhile, new tourism attractions are being developed through projects such as the Kuala Terengganu Drawbridge, Cherating Turtle Sanctuary, and Geting Beach,” Akmal Nasrullah said.
