hkskyline
April 5th, 2006, 04:07 PM
Malaysian leader to lead panel to stop state projects from collapsing
By SEAN YOONG
4 April 2006
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - Malaysia's prime minister, hoping to avoid what he called the disease of abandoned government projects, has said he will lead a committee to make sure no more of them collapse in chaos and waste.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said late Tuesday he will chair a National Implementation Task Force that will coordinate resources for construction of schools, hospitals, roads and other facilities called for in an ambitious five-year development plan he announced last week.
"There must be no projects that are abandoned because of lack of infrastructure, money or manpower," Abdullah told reporters. "We need to facilitate, not frustrate this work."
In the past, many government projects have been abandoned midway because of poor planning and lack of funds, triggering accusations of mismanagement.
Abdullah said the government was concerned that "high impact" projects could end in chaos without proper coordination, causing a massive wastage of funds and public anger.
For example, if the tourism industry is building hotels, the task force would ensure there is electricity, water and workers while construction is going on, he said.
"We have many busy days ahead. I hope there will not be the disease of abandoned projects," he said.
The five-year Ninth Malaysia Plan announced last Friday is a blueprint toward the country's grand vision of becoming a developed nation by 2020. It foresees the economy growing by 6 percent every year until 2010.
The government has pledged to spend 200 billion ringgit (US$54 billion; euro45 billion) for the projects, with an additional 20 billion ringgit (US$5.4 billion; euro4.5 billion) coming from the private sector.
The money allocated to the plan is 18 percent more than for the Eighth Malaysia Plan. The highest allocation -- 41.1 billion ringgit (US$11.1 billion; euro9.2 billion) -- is for improving the education sector by building 409 more schools and two new universities.
Transport is to receive 31.8 billion ringgit (US$8.6 billion; euro7.2 billion), energy and public utilities 21.8 billion ringgit (US$5.9 billion; euro4.9 billion), and commerce and industry 19.9 billion ringgit (US$5.4 billion; euro4.4 billion).
By SEAN YOONG
4 April 2006
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - Malaysia's prime minister, hoping to avoid what he called the disease of abandoned government projects, has said he will lead a committee to make sure no more of them collapse in chaos and waste.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said late Tuesday he will chair a National Implementation Task Force that will coordinate resources for construction of schools, hospitals, roads and other facilities called for in an ambitious five-year development plan he announced last week.
"There must be no projects that are abandoned because of lack of infrastructure, money or manpower," Abdullah told reporters. "We need to facilitate, not frustrate this work."
In the past, many government projects have been abandoned midway because of poor planning and lack of funds, triggering accusations of mismanagement.
Abdullah said the government was concerned that "high impact" projects could end in chaos without proper coordination, causing a massive wastage of funds and public anger.
For example, if the tourism industry is building hotels, the task force would ensure there is electricity, water and workers while construction is going on, he said.
"We have many busy days ahead. I hope there will not be the disease of abandoned projects," he said.
The five-year Ninth Malaysia Plan announced last Friday is a blueprint toward the country's grand vision of becoming a developed nation by 2020. It foresees the economy growing by 6 percent every year until 2010.
The government has pledged to spend 200 billion ringgit (US$54 billion; euro45 billion) for the projects, with an additional 20 billion ringgit (US$5.4 billion; euro4.5 billion) coming from the private sector.
The money allocated to the plan is 18 percent more than for the Eighth Malaysia Plan. The highest allocation -- 41.1 billion ringgit (US$11.1 billion; euro9.2 billion) -- is for improving the education sector by building 409 more schools and two new universities.
Transport is to receive 31.8 billion ringgit (US$8.6 billion; euro7.2 billion), energy and public utilities 21.8 billion ringgit (US$5.9 billion; euro4.9 billion), and commerce and industry 19.9 billion ringgit (US$5.4 billion; euro4.4 billion).