KUANTAN: State assemblymen have been urged to behave with dignity during the proceedings, and only raise issues that can benefit the state and its people.

Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang said the assemblymen must also give good ideas for the state government to improve its services to the public.

"The general election is over. Now it's time for the assemblymen to sit together and discuss problems in a cordial manner," he said when opening the first session of the 12th state assembly sitting yesterday.

Sultan Ahmad Shah also urged the state government to improve its earnings by exploring new resources such as information and communications technology, bio-technology and downstream industries.

Although the state government is expected to earn more than the RM441.04 million it accumulated last year, he said it could not cover total expenditure due to the increase in employees and restructuring of several agencies.
"We should not depend solely on the traditional sources of income such as land, water and forest revenue as they are are insufficient to cover the development expenditure, staff salary and emoluments."

The Sultan said the increase in fuel prices had also caused to rise the prices of goods and services. He hoped the state government would be prudent to help reduce the budget deficit.

Sultan Ahmad Shah also urged the state government to give priority to agriculture and agro-based industry.

"These industries can produce more downstream products to improve the state income and generate more jobs."

He said the setting up of the Halal Food Hub was one of the initiatives that could help promote agriculture and agro-based industry in Pahang.

Sultan Ahmad Shah also hoped the East Coast Economic Region project, launched in October last year, would help Pahang become a developed state by 2020.

"The state government must improve the infrastructure and identify suitable locations for investment," he said.

The assembly meeting begins today and ends on Tuesday.