NCER Very Good Idea, Says Tun Mahathir

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 3 (Bernama) -- The Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) for which conglomerate Sime Darby Bhd will be the master planner, has been given the "nod" by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
"Very good idea," he told reporters after delivering his special keynote address entitled "Driving Malaysia As A Franchising Hub" at the Franchise International Malaysia 2007 here Friday.
Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi launched the NCER master plan state by state beginning last Monday in Kedah and Perlis followed by the launch in Penang and northern Perak the next day.
Tun Dr Mahathir, who is also the patron of the Malaysian Franchise Association, also expressed his best wishes for the project.
Focus has been given to three main areas for the development of the northern region, namely agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism with support of infrastructure development and human capital.
One-third of the total investment in the NCER of RM177 billion until 2025 will be from the government, with the rest from the private sector.
Besides the southern and northern regions, plans are also underway for the development of the east coast, with substantial investment for the development to come from the private sector in the form of private finance initiatives (PFIs).
Asked on when Petronas, which has been tasked with the development of the East Coast, will come out with the masterplan for the Eastern Corridor development, Tun Dr Mahathir said: "I don't know. Petronas have yet to tell me anything. I am waiting for them."
Tun Dr Mahathir is the advisor to the national oil firm.
The government has given Petronas the responsibility of spearheading the development of the Eastern Corridor encompassing Kelantan, northern Terengganu and western Pahang.
As part of the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP), the eastern region states will be given an allocation of RM22.3 billion.