KOTA BARU: Kelantan will stand to benefit from five key projects worth RM1.4 billion which are being carried out under the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP).
Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said the projects were the East Coast Highway 3 (LPT3), Central Spine Road (CSR), extension and upgrading works of the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Pengkalan Chepa, Kota Baru-Kuala Krai highway and the Palekbang bridge.
He said the projects were among the major agendas in the last three years of the 11MP, which runs from 2016 to 2020.
“The Federal Government found that Kelantan was among the states that should be given priority under the 11MP.
"Under the 11MP, there are six states which are given focus and these states also include Sabah and Sarawak.
“Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad wants to see all states in Malaysia being given equal treatment in terms of development," Azmin, who is also Kelantan State Action Council chairman, told reporters after chairing his first meeting with the council here today.
Azmin said he hoped there would be good coordination between the federal and state governments to ensure these projects were completed.
He said such cooperation would give a positive impact to the state's economy as well as the people's welfare.
On the LPT3 project, he said the 150km stretch in its Third Phase would start from Gemuruh in Terengganu to Tumpat, Kelantan.
"The LPT3 project is important as it will create a new growth corridor along Kelantan's coast and help develop Tok Bali port.
"The project will create connectivity to the port and boost industrial areas in Tok Bali. This way, Kelantan products can be transported out with an efficient transport system," he said.
Azmin said the extension and upgrading works at the airport would start at the end of the year and was expected to be completed in three years.
"The RM450 million project, among others, will increase the airport’s passenger capacity from 1.5 million currently to 4 million. It will attract more investors into the state and provide jobs for Kelantan folk," he added.