Pangkor Dialogue will be a vital international product, says Zambry
IPOH: The stage is set for the fourth series of the Pangkor International Development Dialogue (PIDD), said Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.
The annual event, jointly organised by Institut Darul Ridzuan (IDR), the state government and the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA), would be an important international product, he said.
“This is a strategic project between Perak and the Federal Government through NCIA.
“Four years on, we have seen the event growing over the years.”
He said the event had always been preceded by satellite events, and this year was no exception with the Perak Festival of Ideas (PFoI), which featured more than 70 events.
Zambry said PFoI had received much support from the public and was confident that it would achieve its targeted 10,000 ideas from the people.
“We had received more than 6,000 ideas on how to further develop the state’s economy and society,” he said.
PIDD, which will be held today and tomorrow at Hotel Casuarina @ Meru, sees the participation of experts and leaders from many fields, including former Nasa (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) astronaut Dr Catherine Cady Coleman, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Oklahoma City mayor Mick Cornett and founder of Honeybee Network India, Professor Dr Anil K. Gupta.
Earlier, Zambry called on nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) to help solve issues and support government policies.
He said NGOs could help to ensure a people-centred public service delivery and deliver the right information to the people at the right time.
“They must be ready to shoulder the responsibility, in line with the approaches undertaken by the government in dealing with economic and social challenges.
“Indeed, NGOs are an independent third voice between the people and the government, channelling information in a transparent manner,” he said during the closing ceremony of the Perak NGO Convention here yesterday.
He urged NGOs to make use of the assistance provided by the government.
He said the state National Registration Department had been allocated RM2.2 million to be distributed to resident associations that had applied for grants.
However, it had only received applications from 72 of 302 NGOs registered as resident associations.