702 projects, 438 programmes approved under 11MP — Wong
A TOTAL of 1,140 projects and programmes with a fund ceiling of RM20 billion have been approved for implementation under the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP).
According to Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, 702 of the total are physical projects while 438 are in the form of programmes and investments.
Up to last September, he said 71, or 10.1 per cent, of the 702 physical projects had been completed while the remaining 631, or 89.9 per cent, remained in various stages of implementation.
The cumulative expenditure from last year up to Sept 30 this year was RM5.36 billion, or 26.8 per cent, against the RM20 billion ceiling of the 11MP. As at Sept 30 this year, 72 projects, or 12.5 per cent, of the total projects had been completed. The remaining 506 projects or 87.5 per cent are still in various stages of implementation. Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Second Finance Minister
“The cumulative expenditure from last year up to Sept 30 this year was RM5.36 billion, or 26.8 per cent, against the RM20 billion ceiling of the 11MP,” he said when delivering his winding-up speech yesterday.
Under the Second Rolling Plan ( RP2) of the 11MP, Wong said a total of 578 projects had been approved for implementation in Sarawak.
“As at Sept 30 this year, 72 projects, or 12.5 per cent, of the total projects had been completed. The remaining 506 projects or 87.5 per cent are still in various stages of implementation,” he added.
He said the cumulative expenditure for federal- funded projects was RM2.36 billion, or 50.9 per cent, of the allocation of RM4.64 billion approved under the RP2.
At present, he said a total of 1,718 state and federal-funded projects were being implemented in Sarawak by various ministries, departments and agencies.
“These programmes and projects must be implemented and completed in a timely manner and within budget, without compromising on quality and safety standard,” he stressed.
He was delighted to note that the implementing agencies were undertaking continuous efforts to streamline project management and execution in order to achieve delivery excellence to benefit the people.
Touching on digital economy, Wong said it would be the prime mover of the state economic transformation to further accelerate its economic growth powered by knowledge, innovation, digital technology and data analytics.
He believed that this strategy would not only steer Sarawak into the next stage of economic development, but prepare the state to tap opportunities going into the future.
“In this context, the state Budget 2018 allocated about RM1 billion for Sarawak Digital Economy initiatives to achieve five key objectives,” he said.
The objectives, he disclosed, are to accelerate and advance the state economic growth; reduce socio- economic divide; generate employment and business opportunities through e- commerce; harness talent and create value through innovations and entrepreneurships; and achieve e- government for efficiency, transparency, trust and confidence.