KOTA BARU: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today held a meeting with Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud and his state executive councillors.
The meeting at the Menteri Besar's official residence at JKR 10, was the first held since the former prime minister was appointed State Government Four (SG4) adviser, or adviser to the four state governments held by Perikatan Nasional.
In a Facebook post, Dr Mahathir said today's meeting was part of the SG4 programme.
"Our discussions focused on increased investment, the use of land as capital as well as solutions to the issue of clean water supply.
"I believe that if the state is able to provide basic facilities such as a good road system, water supply and electricity, it will attract investors to come and invest in Kelantan.
"In addition, locals will be able to supply the workforce when the industry opens because many Kelantanese have migrated to the Klang Valley to fill job vacancies in various industries," he said.
Dr Mahathir said Kelantan was a land of businesspeople and the average population here was involved in business activities with majority of them being small-scale industries.
"There are also not many factory industries from abroad based here, except for the ROHM-Wako Electronics company from Japan which was originally in Selangor but chose to move and open a factory in Kota Baru in 1989," he said.
Dr Mahathir said he knew that Kelantan was famous for "nasi berlauk".
"I was told that a rice dish seller can send his food to other states like Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. One of the famous ones is Kak Chik that operates in Tumpat.
"After the meeting, I stopped by to see the process of making this food from the packaging until delivery.
"InsyaAllah, this state will be prosperous and successful if its state resources and the abilities of its people are well introduced (to others)," he added.
On Sept 14, Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar announced that all four PN-led states would set up a new faction, calling themselves "State Government Four", or "SG4".
He said that state government leaders from Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis had agreed in principle to form the cooperation.
He had also ordered the Terengganu executive council to hold talks with their counterparts in the other three states.
Dr Mahathir, meanwhile, would be its unofficial adviser, focusing on effective and efficient governance.
Samsuri, who is also Pas vice-president, said Dr Mahathir's role was also to connect the four states with investors from countries like Japan and South Korea that have good ties with him.