IN A FLASH 10 JULY 2009

IN A FLASH 3 JULY 2009
GOOD AFTERNOON AND SALAM MUHIBAH.
IT IS NOW TIME FOR IN A FLASH.

All projects under the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) are proceeding according to schedule, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Thursday.

Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, the government has allocated seven hundred fifty million ringgit to the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) to the develop the area.

He said basically, they are on schedule. However, some of the projects are pilot in nature that needs testing before being implemented on a large scale.

He told reporters after chairing the third NCIA meeting in Putrajaya yesterday.

Najib said the projects in the NCER master plan covered the major economic sectors of agriculture, manufacturing and tourism, supported by the infrastructure, education, human capital and social development sectors.

He then added various projects are being implemented on a pilot basis, including the Amali Agro Entrepreneur Centre in Kampung Bukit Kura, Kedah, which is aimed at promoting agriculture on a commercial basis.

The project showcases the integrated agricultural concept, with the activities ranging from planting, chicken rearing to marketing.

The government is also developing a pilot project under the SawahKU Maju programme, which involves an area of eighty one hectares in Gunung Semanggol, Perak, with the aim of increasing padi production by eight to 10 tonnes per hectare.

For manufacturing, Najib said the government was implementing an excellence centre programme in the Penang Free Industrial Zone to raise the capability of engineering graduates to meet the needs of investors in the electronics industry, with the operations expected to start end of this year.

For the tourism sector, he said a master plan has been prepared to develop the Belum tropical forest in Temenggor, Perak, with priority given to conservation of the rich natural resources.

He then said Taiping, Perak, will be developed as a heritage tourism town and with a special allocation for the Safari Taiping programme.
He then said the government was also developing the Edu Citi-Tel pilot project to provide integrated hostel facilities in Taiping for Standard Five and Six pupils from families in rural areas and with low income.

He then said infrastructure project involved upgrading three hundred fifty-one kilometres of roads under the Muda Agricultural Development Authority in Ampang Jajar, Kedah, at a cost of RM84 million and construction is expected to be completed in stages from May 2009 to April 2010.

The government, he added, was developing Taman Teknologi Pauh in Perlis, an area of 30.3 hectares, with the aim of diversifying sources of economic growth and job opportunities.



//ENDS-BERNAMA

THAT’S THE END OF IN A FLASH FOR TODAY.
SALAM MUHIBAH.