By tackling pressing issues Ku Nan aims to make FT folk happy

KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Territories Day celebrations today is themed “Wilayah Ceria Rakyat Sejahtera” (Blissful Territories, Prosperous Residents).

Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (pic) is determined to make residents in all three territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya happy by dealing with their most pressing problems.

“We want the city folk to be cheerful, because we realise that if the people are not happy, it will lead to many problems,” he said.

On the high cost of living faced by city-dwellers Tengku Adnan said, “we are looking at how we can address the problems faced by people in the Federal Territories, especially those cost-related.

“We are planning to issue a ‘Kad Ceria’ (Cheerful Card) to help people buy groceries at discounted rates.

“We have also implemented programmes in poor areas, extending aid under the ‘Wilayah Prihatin’ (Concerned Territory) programme among others.”

On the traffic congestion woes faced by the city folk, Tengku Adnan said, “give us some time, I believe the problem will gradually decrease within the next five years. We are also looking at ways to reduce the number of private vehicles entering the city, that’s my goal.”

He also touched on the “Greater KL/Klang Valley” initiative to make Kuala Lumpur one of the top 20 cities in the world to live in by 2020.

He said the focus is on reducing carbon emissions by increasing green development in the city, such as planting about 100,000 trees by 2020, as well as implementing other environmentally-friendly projects.

“All these initiatives aim to provide comfort to the residents, the programmes implemented are to ensure good surroundings, development infrastructure, and security, and at the same time attract more people to reside in Kuala Lumpur,” he said.

On the long-term visions for Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan as Federal Territories, Tengku Adnan said for Kuala Lumpur, its vision is to become a developed capital city, on par with other world-renowned capitals such as New York, London and Paris.

For Putrajaya, he said it is to be maintained as the administrative centre of the country, thereby functioning as the hub to bring the Government and people closer.

“For Labuan, I plan to develop the island as a tourism and education hub.

“Behind all these plans to develop the three territories where people from all over the country come to reside, the main vision is to embed the spirit of love for these territories,” he said. — Bernama