NCER: Is Penang still being marginalised?
Published: Aug 3, 2007 4:42 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
Judging from past investment records as well as the lack of details on Penang's share of the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) budget, the island state continues to be shortchanged.
Judging from past investment records as well as the lack of details on Penang's share of the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) budget, the island state continues to be shortchanged.
In saying this, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng also claimed that despite official pronouncements that Penang has been earmarked in the NCER development plan as a major logistics and transportation "gateway" to the northern corridor, the actual numbers disclose a different story.
In fact, very little numbers have been disclosed as to the actual share of the pie that Penang will receive as part of the RM177 billion to be divided among between it and the farming states of Kedah, Perlis, Perak, said Lim.
"The question is, how much of this RM 177 billion in investment is earmarked for Penang and (who much for) the other states?" he asked.
"Unless the government gives a breakdown, the NCER marginalizes Penang, as the main thrust of agriculture is not the comparative and competitive advantage for Penang," he added.
Reports on the launch of the NCER by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Monday accounted for only about RM23 billion in terms of the projects slated for Penang.
Of this, the Penang Central integrated transport hub is said to cost RM2 billion, a temporary bus terminal RM5 million, the Penang Global City Centre RM18 billion, and the Second Penang Bridge RM2.7 billion.
Earlier reports on the Penang monorail project said it would cost RM1.1 billion to build.
Lost out in race
No numbers, however, were cited for the Pulau Jerejak medical tourism centre, the expansion of the Penang-Butterworth fast ferry services, Penang Port's expansion, the Bayan Lepas Airport expansion, or the Swettenham Pier redevelopment in George Town.
The budget for the other components of the NCER programme for Penang was also not disclosed, such as the Micro-Electronics Centre of Excellence, the Hospitality college and hostel in Balik Pulau, and the Khazanah Nasional Bhd regional office.
"Penang Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon should fully explain how Penang is going to benefit in ringgit and sen and not distract attention with obscure speeches," said Lim.
"Better still, he should be prepared to engage in a public debate on the economic performance and potential of Penang on how to regain its position as the most developed state in Malaysia," he added.
Comparing the NCER and the plans for Penang with Johor's Iskandar Development Region (IDR) that targets RM50 billion over the first five years and RM383 billion target over 20 years, Lim said the former "has clearly lost out in the race for foreign investment."
"In contrast to Johor alone... the RM 177 billion (budged for the NCER) is to be divided over (the) four states of Kedah, Perlis, Perak and Penang," he noted.
Lim also cited figures from the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority as proof that Penang had lost out to Johore - which received in the first quarter of this year a total of RM 2.489 billion of domestic and foreign investments.
"Penang pales in comparison with only RM 178 million comprising of RM 81 million in domestic investment and RM 97 million in foreign investment," said Lim.
In saying this, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng also claimed that despite official pronouncements that Penang has been earmarked in the NCER development plan as a major logistics and transportation "gateway" to the northern corridor, the actual numbers disclose a different story.
In fact, very little numbers have been disclosed as to the actual share of the pie that Penang will receive as part of the RM177 billion to be divided among between it and the farming states of Kedah, Perlis, Perak, said Lim. "The question is, how much of this RM 177 billion in investment is earmarked for Penang and (who much for) the other states?" he asked.
"Unless the government gives a breakdown, the NCER marginalizes Penang, as the main thrust of agriculture is not the comparative and competitive advantage for Penang," he added.
Reports on the launch of the NCER by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Monday accounted for only about RM23 billion in terms of the projects slated for Penang.
Of this, the Penang Central integrated transport hub is said to cost RM2 billion, a temporary bus terminal RM5 million, the Penang Global City Centre RM18 billion, and the Second Penang Bridge RM2.7 billion.
Earlier reports on the Penang monorail project said it would cost RM1.1 billion to build.
Lost out in race
No numbers, however, were cited for the Pulau Jerejak medical tourism centre, the expansion of the Penang-Butterworth fast ferry services, Penang Port's expansion, the Bayan Lepas Airport expansion, or the Swettenham Pier redevelopment in George Town.
The budget for the other components of the NCER programme for Penang was also not disclosed, such as the Micro-Electronics Centre of Excellence, the Hospitality college and hostel in Balik Pulau, and the Khazanah Nasional Bhd regional office.
"Penang Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon should fully explain how Penang is going to benefit in ringgit and sen and not distract attention with obscure speeches," said Lim. "Better still, he should be prepared to engage in a public debate on the economic performance and potential of Penang on how to regain its position as the most developed state in Malaysia," he added.
Comparing the NCER and the plans for Penang with Johor's Iskandar Development Region (IDR) that targets RM50 billion over the first five years and RM383 billion target over 20 years, Lim said the former "has clearly lost out in the race for foreign investment."
"In contrast to Johor alone... the RM 177 billion (budged for the NCER) is to be divided over (the) four states of Kedah, Perlis, Perak and Penang," he noted.
Lim also cited figures from the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority as proof that Penang had lost out to Johore - which received in the first quarter of this year a total of RM 2.489 billion of domestic and foreign investments.
"Penang pales in comparison with only RM 178 million comprising of RM 81 million in domestic investment and RM 97 million in foreign investment," said Lim.
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