Najib announces RM1.3b for major Langkawi projects
The funds will be used to expand the island's hospital, build quarters and a fire station, boost water supply, and upgrade a key road.
PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday fulfilled his pledge to bring more development to Langkawi by announcing a mammoth RM1.3 billion allocation for five infrastructure projects on the island.
The allocation will be used for water catchment projects, upgrading Langkawi Hospital, as well as building a fire station, quarters and roads.
This comes under Rolling Plan 3 of the 11th Malaysia Plan, which sees the Federal Government approving upgrading work for Langkawi Hospital, with the construction of an additional building costing RM500 million.
Najib said at present, Langkawi Hospital could only accommodate 110 beds, but, once completed, the new building would be able to accommodate 220 beds.
“The government has approved the construction of more quarters and integration for Health Department staff in Langkawi at a cost of RM135 million.
“As for the third project, the government has approved the building of a fire station and quarters at Padang Matsirat at a cost of RM30 million,” he said at the GO 4.0 Langkawi 2018 carnival.
Najib said the government would upgrade the main road along the PULAPOL airport roundabout, which would cost RM50 million.
To ensure clean water supply in Langkawi until 2040, he said the Economic Planning Unit approved a RM600 million allocation to build water catchment facilities in Padang Matsirat.
He lauded the Kedah Malay Chamber of Commerce, with cooperation from the Human Resources Development Fund, for organising the event.
GO 4.0 aims to educate entrepreneurs on digital economy, in line with the 4th Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0), which Najib said brought a wave of changes to people’s lifestyle.
Najib said a study carried out by an agency under the United Nations showed that 65 per cent of current jobs would become extinct in the next few years.
“Most of the jobs today will be filled up by schoolchildren of today. The changes brought about by IR 4.0 will change the way we live, work and play. In short, every aspect of our life will change.”
Citing an example, Najib said the government’s Digital Economic adviser, Alibaba founder Jack Ma, told him about a new system in China known as “310”.
“Through the 310 system, applications for micro-credit financing are processed online. An online application takes only three minutes to be processed.
“Once the application is approved, it will take only three minutes to transfer the funds. There is zero human involvement in the process interface.”
Najib said it was crucial for the people to embrace IR 4.0, instead of just being “spectators”, to reap the benefit of the digital economy.
The government has approved the construction of more quarters and integration for Health Department staff in Langkawi at a cost of RM135 million... and the building of a fire station and quarters at Padang Matsirat at a cost of RM30 million. DATUK SERI NAJIB RAZAK Prime minister