131 EPP PROJECTS WILL BALANCE UP FDIs AND DDIs - M'SIAN DEPUTY MINISTER

SUNGAI PETANI (Kedah, Malaysia,) June 3 (Bernama) -- The implementation of
131 Entry Point Projects (EPP) will help the country bring a 50-50 balance in
the amount of foreign direct investments (FDIs) and domestic direct investments
(DDIs) to help grow the country's economy, says Deputy International Trade and
Industry Minister Mukhriz Mahathir.

He said the 131 projects were capable of attracting the interest of the
local private sector in the development of the country's economy while at the
same time increase the level of DDIs in the country.

"I have yet to see any figures for the first six months of this year, but I
am confident and believe that the transformation plan that formed the 131 EPP
projects are capable of further activating the involvement of the private sector
in the country's economic growth," he told reporters after officiating a
gathering here Friday.

Mukhriz said the government's latest measure has provided an impetus to the
country's trade scenario with many projects to be carried out for the benefit of
the people involving both lcoal private sector companies and foreign companies.

On the rising cost of local goods and their impact on the implementation of
the EPP projects, Mukhriz said the people would need to understand that the rise
in the cost of local goods was brought on by the global market and that the
government could not possibly delay the projects out of fear of the effects of a
rising cost.

The cost of living is also bound to go up from time to time, he added.

Mukhriz also said the government would not delay the projects if it has the
budget particularly from the private sector.

A delay could possibly push prices further by 20 to 30 per cent in another
two to five years for these projects, he added.