KUALA LUMPUR: Economic hotspots will be identified in Sabah and Sarawak under the Shared Prosperity Vision (WKB), the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said among the crucial steps to be taken to reduce the income gap was to identify economic hotspots with potentials to be developed.
He said WKB was aimed at, among others, reducing the development gap in Sabah and Sarawak as compared to Malaysia’s central region, currently at a ratio of 2.6 in Sabah and 1.3 in Sarawak based on the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) per capita.
“This is to ensure economic development does not focus only in certain regions and is distributed based on the strength and uniqueness of the two states,” he said during Minister’s Question Time.
He said the government has identified potential sectors that would be given attention in drawing the development strategies for the states.
“For Sabah, it would involve focus on island tourism, border economy through various sub-regional collaborations, downstream petroleum refinery, commodity economy and downstream products, fisheries and aquaculture.
“Meanwhile, for Sarawak, the focus would be given on eco-tourism, renewable energy, high-tech agriculture and husbandry, commodity economy and downstream products. The government will take into consideration the views of state governments in implementing these policies.
“In fact, in drafting and executing the policy, the federal government has also engaged the state governments to identify industries and new sectors that could be developed, with some of them possibly included in the 12th Malaysia Plan,” he said in reply to a question by Vivian Wong (PH-Sandakan).
On human capital, Azmin said WKB would also elevate the rights of Sabah and Sarawak Bumiputeras by taking into consideration matters agreed in the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
“Apart from that, access to road facilities, basic infrastructure, health and education with quality, especially for the rural community in Sabah and Sarawak would be given priority.
“This is to increase the average monthly household income from RM5,354 in Sabah and RM5,387 in Sarawak, compared with RM9,463 in Selangor.
“The government is confident that the implementation of WKB would ensure no household income group is left behind by 2030 and every citizen enjoys the country’s prosperity.”
In addressing a supplementary question by Ahmad Amzad Hashim (Pas-Kuala Terengganu), Azmin said while the government placed focus on equitability of outcome, attention would continue to be given to targeted groups.
“As we are aware, 70 per cent of those under B40 (lowest income group) are Bumiputeras and Malays. So of course, various initiatives and efforts would be carried out for this group so they would be given new opportunities (to increase income); but these opportunities must be followed by their capabilities to ensure targets set under WKB would be achieved.”
He said WKB was aimed at restructuring the economy, rebuilding the country and addressing inequality.
It was introduced after taking into consideration the widening economic gap even after the implementation of various policies including Vision 2020.