Nor Mohamed: 10MP implementation going well, RM10b spent as of May
Jun 11, 2011
The first five months of the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP) implementation has been an extremely busy period with its management very satisfactory, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop.
The government has spent RM10 billion as of May to implement various programmes and projects, said Nor Mohamed, who is responsible for the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) in the ministry.
"Various initiatives and development projects have been carried out based on the five core strategies that had been set," he said during a media briefing Thursday on the progress of the 10MP.
A year ago on June 10, 2010, the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also Finance Minister, tabled the 10MP six months earlier than its due launch date which was January this year.
It was to enable the financing for the approved projects to be accounted in the Budget of 2011, the first year of the 10MP implementation, and also for early planning and starting off the projects in January 2011.
Expressing his satisfaction with the initial performance of the five year plan which will end in 2015, Nor Mohamed said as part of the 10MP's value management in project planning, the aspects of targetted cost savings and time schedules had been met with.
So far, 72 projects worth RM50 million and above each, have gone through the process of value management and this had resulted in savings of up to RM6.4 billion.
Citing the Jalan Long Lopeng-Ba'kelalan road upgrading project as an example, Nor Mohamed said the cost per km had reached only RM0.7 million compared with the conventional method which would have cost between RM3 million and RM5 million.
The construction period was also successfully reduced to about 13 months using the new way.
Programmes and projects under the 10MP are also being carried out via the rolling plan basis.
Under this, allocation for the programmes and projects will be allocated on a two-year basis.
This will ensure that commitments are made based on the government's prevailing financial status while giving it the flexibility to respond to new priorities and changes in the global and domestic economic environment.
For development programmes in the first two years of 10MP, the government has allocated RM103.6 billion.
Under this, 62 per cent has been given to the economic sector, 27 per cent to the social sector, eight per cent to the security sector and three per cent to public administration.
On the effects the 10MP implementation would have on economic performance, Nor Mohamed said he was confident of a good showing in the gross domestic product (GDP) growth for the third and fourth quarters.
"This will follow with the implementation of several more development projects under the 10MP scheduled in the final six months," he said.
"We are certain of meeting the five to six per cent economic growth target this year," he said.
Malaysia recorded a 4.6 per cent GDP growth in the first quarter.
For the first quarter the EPU also estimated private investments at RM28 billion. The full target for this year is RM87 billion.
At the same time, the inflation and unemployment rates have been kept within the target range of 2.8 per cent and 3.1 per cent respectively.
As a major move towards a high-income economy, the government had adopted the strategy of specialisation with focus on 12 national key economic areas.
Among them have been the plans for a Greater Kuala Lumpur in recognition of its potential as a world class city that could drive the country's economic growth.
In line with this, initial works have started on the development of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) which is expected to generate economic activities worth more than RM100 billion and create more than 130,000 employment opportunities.
Meanwhile, a conclusion was brought to the public exhibition of the Sungai Buloh-Kajang Klang Valley Mass Rail Transit Project plan in seven locations. It received positive support from the people with more than 6,000 comments and suggestions from various channels.
Under the Tourism NKEA, Nor Mohamed said the Langkawi Blueprint had been established early this year.
"Several development projects involving Pulau Langkawi as a unique tourist destination will be announced soon," he said.
The developments in the island is expected to attract investments worth RM4 billion in the next five years.
Meanwhile TERAJU, the unit formed early this year to monitor, coordinate the Bumiputera development agenda, had already carried out several initiatives including a lab on the participation of Bumiputeras in the Entry Point Projects.
Under the 10MP's focus on the development of human capital, a total of 491 pre-school classes in primary schools had been also set up.
Among other measures taken for human capital development, the Talent Corp was established in January this year to attract talented Malaysians to fulfill the country's needs for highly skilled workers.
On June 1, the government also launched the 1Malaysia Training Scheme to raise graduates marketability in the working arena.
The first year of the 10MP also saw the establishment of 27 1Malaysia clinics at a cost of RM2.2 million. - Bernama
