Yang Dipertua Negeri of Melaka Tun Mohd Ali Rustam has called for the state government to be more aggressive in attracting new investment opportunities from within and outside the country.
The Melaka governor said the state government could focus on, among others, the services sector and the manufacturing, communications, tourism, agriculture, property, education and healthcare industries.
“Last year, the state recorded a Gross Domestic Product of RM43.6 billion, which was a low growth of 2.8 per cent compared to 3.9 per cent in 2018.
“The GDP performance is forecast to decline in 2020 in line with the the country’s economic growth due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said at the state’s investiture of orders, decorations and medals to 190 recipients at the Seri Negeri complex here today.
Mohd Ali noted that the state government had carried out sea reclamation works that created an additional 6,070 hectares of land.
“However, there are still many pieces of vacant land available for development that require the cooperation of landowners (for development).
“The potential investments to be brought in will spur the state’s economic growth and hence benefit the people in terms of employment opportunities and better income for families,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mohd Ali expressed hope that the discussions among various quarters during the Melakaku Maju Jaya seminar held in August could be documented and used for the state’s development roadmap for the next 15 years (until 2035).
“I also wish that the document produced would be accepted at the federal level and be translated into the ministries’ priorities and approved federal allocations for Melaka.
“I believe the roadmap for Melaka’s development should be accepted by all, as it supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and is in line with the Malaysian government’s Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 policy,” he added. — BERNAMA
