KANGAR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today approved an additional allocation of RM14 million for the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) complex project in Wang Kelian.
Anwar said the decision was made after considering the urgent need to address congestion at the country's border entry point.
"The Perlis menteri besar (Mohd Shukri Ramli) requested for additional funding for the ICQS complex project, scanning machines at the Perlis inland port and the management of the state government.
"Taking into account the urgent need, I approved an additional RM14 million for the ICQS complex project in Wang Kelian to resolve congestion issues," he said in a statement.
Anwar, who was in Perlis for a brief working visit today, chaired a meeting on state development at the Perlis State Legislative Assembly Complex in Kangar.
Present were Mohd Shukri, state executive council members, state mufti and heads of state and federal government agencies.
Anwar said the one-hour discussion touched on various development issues and needs in Perlis.
Among them were the Kuala Perlis square project, Kuala Perlis tourism market, road construction to connect coastal roads to Kuala Sanglang and the maintenance of stalls and kiosks in the state.
"I also mentioned the potential of Perlis as a tourist destination and how our country spends heavily to subsidise basic goods, and yet food prices in our country are still higher compared to neighbouring countries.
"I believe that if efforts were made to address this issue, more tourists will come to Perlis," he added.