Penang wants funds for transport infrastructure
Athi ShankarPublished: Oct 14, 2009 7:47 AM | Updated: Oct 14, 2009 7:58 AM
Penang government's main investment wooer, InvestPenang, wants the federal government to set aside allocations under the Budget 2010 to upgrade the state transport-based infrastructure system.
Penang government's main investment wooer, InvestPenang,wants the federal government to set aside allocations under the Budget 2010 to upgrade the state transport-based infrastructure system.
Invest-In-Penang Bhd executive board chairperson Lee Kah Choon has stated this in his wish-list submitted recently to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who is also finance minister.
He said the allocation was urgently needed to upgrade the Bayan Lepas International Airport and, port and cruise centres in Sweetenham Pier.
He said the international airport and port were key requirements to sustain economic growth, particularly for Penang's industrial growth.
The industrial sector is the number one revenue earner for Penang.
Lee stressed the current phases of renovation and upgrading works on these infrastructure facilities and the Pena
ng Bridge 2 construction should proceed and be completed on schedule.
He also said that Penang urgently needed allocations to build new projects such as the monorail system and circular ring roads.
"All these projects are crucial to propel not only Penang but also Malaysia as a world class destination for investments," he said in a statement today.
Improve quality of local graduates
Lee also called on Najib to allot more funds to improve the quality of local graduates and post-graduates, especially in high technology knowledge and skills and proficiency in English.
He lamented that most domestic graduates and post-graduates don't meet the requirements of the industrial companies, especially multi-national corporations (MNCs).
He said many MNCs have pointed out that local graduates lacked the skills, knowledge and potential to carry out high technology industrial works, and were not conversant in English, which is the global business language.
He said the government's decision to revert the teaching of Mathematics and Science subjects from English to Bahasa Malaysia does not augur well to improve the English proficiency among local graduates.
Lee said Budget 2010 should look into aiding the local universities, industrial training centres and higher learning institutes to work closely with industrial companies to overcome these weaknesses.
"The local tertiary education sector should develop programmes and curriculums to suit the current needs of the industrial sector," he said.
Lee also called on the budget to include more incentives to encourage industrial companies, especially MNCs, to use renewable energy.
The companies, he said were gradually converting to renewable energy to reduce their energy cost and fulfill their social responsibility.
He said the government should allow enough time for MNCs to convert given that decisions on local operations require corporate approval and endorsement.
The government incentives, he added, should focus on encouraging companies, including new ones, to use products utilising renewable energy, as well as produce products and develop buildings tapping on the energy.
He said the programmes to encourage use of renewable energy must be promoted through various industry organisations and task forces with government support.
Invest-In-Penang Bhd executive board chairperson Lee Kah Choon has stated this in his wish-list submitted recently to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who is also finance minister.
He said the allocation was urgently needed to upgrade the Bayan Lepas International Airport and, port and cruise centres in Sweetenham Pier.
He said the international airport and port were key requirements to sustain economic growth, particularly for Penang's industrial growth.
The industrial sector is the number one revenue earner for Penang.
Lee stressed the current phases of renovation and upgrading works on these infrastructure facilities and the Pena
ng Bridge 2 construction should proceed and be completed on schedule.He also said that Penang urgently needed allocations to build new projects such as the monorail system and circular ring roads.
"All these projects are crucial to propel not only Penang but also Malaysia as a world class destination for investments," he said in a statement today.
Improve quality of local graduates
Lee also called on Najib to allot more funds to improve the quality of local graduates and post-graduates, especially in high technology knowledge and skills and proficiency in English.
He lamented that most domestic graduates and post-graduates don't meet the requirements of the industrial companies, especially multi-national corporations (MNCs).
He said many MNCs have pointed out that local graduates lacked the skills, knowledge and potential to carry out high technology industrial works, and were not conversant in English, which is the global business language.
He said the government's decision to revert the teaching of Mathematics and Science subjects from English to Bahasa Malaysia does not augur well to improve the English proficiency among local graduates.
Lee said Budget 2010 should look into aiding the local universities, industrial training centres and higher learning institutes to work closely with industrial companies to overcome these weaknesses.
"The local tertiary education sector should develop programmes and curriculums to suit the current needs of the industrial sector," he said.
Lee also called on the budget to include more incentives to encourage industrial companies, especially MNCs, to use renewable energy.
The companies, he said were gradually converting to renewable energy to reduce their energy cost and fulfill their social responsibility.
He said the government should allow enough time for MNCs to convert given that decisions on local operations require corporate approval and endorsement.
The government incentives, he added, should focus on encouraging companies, including new ones, to use products utilising renewable energy, as well as produce products and develop buildings tapping on the energy.
He said the programmes to encourage use of renewable energy must be promoted through various industry organisations and task forces with government support.
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