THE Government should continue spending on infrastructure projects under Budget 2021, as it would lead to Malaysia’s economic recovery.
In a statement, Senior Minister (Works) Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said that investments in infrastructure projects would also lead to higher gross domestic product (GDP) figures.
“With that, I urge the Government to focus on the Mass Rapid Transit Line 3 (MRT 3), East Coast Rail Line (ECRL), High Speed Rail (HSR) and the Pan Borneo Highway projects,” he said.
Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Aziz is scheduled to table Budget 2021 on Nov 6. Experts have said the budget will include measures to revive the economy, which is ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic.
To date, the Government had announced six stimulus packages, amounting to over RM300 bil to keep the nation going while doing its best to keep the pandemic in check.
On that note, Fadillah hoped that Budget 2021 would take into consideration several proposals sent by his ministry, which would help bolster the economy further.
“Among the requests we made was to approve the Central Spine Road (CSR). We are also looking at the Kota Bharu- Kuala Krai road project, which will connect Kuala Krai to Gua Musang and Bentong to Karak.
“As for East Malaysia, we are looking at a road project to connect Kuala Baram to Miri, near the Brunei border at CIQ Sungai Tujuh, which is about five kilometres in length,” he noted.
Need to prepare for IR4.0
The Petra Jaya member of Parliament added that his ministry had also requested for another 20 projects, scattered around Malaysia, to be approved.
The projects, among others, include repair works, maintenance and building new roads.
“All the projects have been scrutinised by federal agencies, upon consultation with its respective state agencies,” he said.
To boost the economy further, Fadillah suggested the Government should also allocate enough funding to the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) to promote the construction industry.
“With enough allocation, CIDB can invest further on Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0) initiatives such as robotics, automation, Internet of Things (IOT), Big Data, Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence,” he remarked.
Fadillah went on to say, “Such projects will help the Works Ministry to fulfill the aspiration of the National Construction Policy 2030, which will be launched soon.” – Nov 1, 2020
