HUGE PROJECTS UNDER ETP GOOD AND AMBITIOUS

By Mahanum Abdul Aziz

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 (Bernama) -- The huge projects unveiled by the government
under the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) are ambitious and aggressive
private investment targets, says Nazir Razak, Group Chief Executive of CIMB
Group, Malaysia's second largest financial services provider.

He said the plan was very clear with 131 entry-point projects (EPPs) to be
carried out across 12 National Key Economic Areas (NKEAs).

"It's good to be ambitious and no doubt they are very aggressive private
investment targets," he told reporters here Wednesday.

"I really applaud the effort of Pemandu (Performance Management and Delivery
Unit). The amount of work gone into the ETP is absolutely phenomenal," he added.

On Tuesday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and Pemandu Chief
Executive Officer Idris Jala announced seven entry point projects with
investments worth US$37 billion (RM114.7 billion) expected to begin under the
ETP before end of this year.

He said they were among 131 EPPs and and 60 business opportunities under the ETP
which will kick-start Malaysia's drive towards high-income nation status by
2020.

Around 12 EPPs with investments worth US$10 billion are close commitments or
partial commitments from named investors, while 34 EPPs with investment worth
US$50 billion are at the level of active engagement with potential investors
expressing interest.
-- BERNAMA