ECER Increases Presence In Pahang With Kuantan State Office

2/23/2009 — Press Release
The Pahang state office of the East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) is now operational and will facilitate the progress of ECER projects.
Located at B8002 Sri Kuantan Square in Jalan Teluk Sisek, the office will also monitor related state-wide projects as well as provide information on ECER’s core fundamentals and strategies to residents in Pahang.
The opening of this office also marks the first meeting of the state’s Implementation and Coordination Committee (ICC) which will oversee the projects’ ground implementation.
The Pahang ICC consists of 11 members, headed by Menteri Besar, Datuk Sri Haji Adnan Haji Yaakob. Other members include ECERDC Chief Executive Dato’ Jebasingam Issace John, Pahang State Secretary and State Economic Planning Unit Director, as well as representatives of the state and federal government agencies and institutions.
“The establishment of this office provides a greater presence in Pahang for ECERDC. Undoubtedly, it will go a long way in promoting ECER projects, offer a helping hand and create more awareness,” said Issace John.
“Under the 9th Malaysia Plan, 45 projects have been identified under the ECER for implementation in Pahang, of which 32 are exclusive for the state, while the balance 13 are cross-border projects involving other neighboring states.
“In the last year, work on 24 projects has begun while 11 more will start by mid year, another seven before year end and the final three projects will commence next year,” he added.
From the 24 projects which have commenced last year, the CEO said the development of a homestay and kampung-stay programme to encourage residents’ direct participation in tourism, will be initiated in Kuala Lipis and Pekan.
In the manufacturing cluster, ECER’s automotive hub has attracted the attention of China’s Chery Auto to possibly build a 215 acre- factory in Pekan-Peramu.
Meanwhile, Felda is investing in a multiplier, feedlot farm, marketing hub and abattoir which will give a boost to the ECER’s cattle and beef cluster. It will also be involved in various downstream cattle and beef activities.
Preparations are underway to build the Cattle Nucleus Centre in Muadzam Shah and Jerantut which is expected to complete before end year.
Two herbal parks have been identified for development in Temerloh and Raub. A subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional is ready to take on the role of anchor company.
To enhance the income of the hardcore poor, integrated development of farming activities in Mukim Bebar, Tanjung Batu and Mukim Lepar, Batu 8 in Pekan have been approved by the state government for agropolitan projects.
Some 250 participants in Mukim Bebar will be involved in oil palm plantation, while 850 participants from 24 orang asli villages will participate in sheep rearing as a primary activity, earning themselves a steady monthly income plus equity after three years.
The first phase of implementation will commence before mid year.
To further boost the income of women and home industries, weaving projects involving the famed Kain Tenun Diraja Pahang have begun.
In Kuantan, some 15 participants are involved in this programme with Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Pahang acting as the implementation agency.
In Pekan, five participants are now enrolled in this programme with Lembaga Kraftangan as the implementing agency.
Kuantan Port, which has been earmarked to be a logistics and industrial hub within the ECER, will have a development master plan in place by May.
The Kuantan Port City initiative will see the existing port facilities vastly upgraded to pave the way for Kuantan to become an integrated terminal and logistics hub for the petrochemical, palm oil, automotive and container market, as well as a major industrial and manufacturing zone.
Kuantan’s position as the gateway to the Asia Pacific region will be used to the best advantage, complementing Malaysia’s other major marine and logistic hubs located in the west and south of the peninsula.
Meanwhile, to improve accessibility to Kuantan Port, a feasibility study on Kuantan by-pass and upgrading of water supply has commenced while a concept plan to widen and upgrade Kuantan Port will be completed before mid year.
Construction is scheduled to begin in June and will complete in December 2011.
As part of the Kuantan Port development plan, the first phase of the construction of breakwater will begin end year and complete by 2013.
Detailed studies have also begun to connect east coast to the west coast and the widening of existing roads between Kuala Krai in Kelantan to Pelangai in Negeri Sembilan before they adjoin the North-South Expressway.
Package 1 will see the upgrade of the 84km road between Gua Musang to Kampung Relong. Package 2 will involve the Karak to Simpang Pelangai stretch, which includes a short cut between Karak and Bentong.
These upgrade works are scheduled to start before year end.
Lastly, the establishment of Centres of Excellence will support the economic and infrastructure programmes within Pahang.
They include Universiti Malaysia Pahang which will conduct research on bio-degradable and bio-fuel substances while UiTM Pahang will offer training courses as well as establish the accreditation and certification of wood-based products.
– ends –