PM WANTS STATE DEVELOPMENT TO PROCEED UNIMPEDED

KUALA TERENGGANU (Malaysia), Jan 15 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi said Thursday he wanted the ongoing development in east coast state of
Terengganu to continue unimpeded in fulfilling the aspirations of the people in
the state.

The prime minister said the government would ensure that all programmes
drawn up for the state since the time the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) took over
the administration of the state from opposition Islamist party, Parti Islam
se-Malaysia (PAS), were implemented.

"I want to see unimpeded continuation of the development in this state,
without the shelving of any project. All programmes will be implemented.

"The aspirations of the people of Terengganu will become reality," he said
at the laying of the foundation stone for the Maternity Specialist Complex and
the Mental Health Psychiatry Complex of the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital, here.


Abdullah said good cooperation between the federal and state governments was
vital for this, and should extend to all levels right down to the lowest.

It is for this reason that we want our elected representative in this area
(constituency), as was the case before, to facilitate our work," he said.

Abdullah said that since the time the BN took over the administration of the
state from PAS in 2004, various projects beneficial to the people had been
implemented including the establishment of a university named Universiti
Malaysia Terengganu, upgrading of the Sultan Mahmud Airport and construction of
highways.

"What we are doing now (construction of the specialist complex) is another
development brought by the BN government in Terengganu and the BN federal
government -- another project which makes the aspirations of the Terengganu
people a reality," he said.

Abdullah also said that following the BN takeover of the state government,
the poverty rate had dropped from 15.4 per cent to the current 6.5.

Furthermore, he said, Terengganu was also tops in terms of the academic
achievement of the pupils and students compared to those in the other states.

Abdullah said these achievements show that the projects implemented by the
government have a great impact on the people of Terengganu, especially in terms
of well-being.

"I am thankful that the state government always gives attention to the needs
of the people and all projects implemented are for all the people, regardless of
ethnicity, community or religion," he said.

Abdullah said that though the people were free to elect the government of
their choice, it was his duty to convey accurate information to the people to
help them arrive at a wise decision.

Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai and Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Said were
also present at the event.
-- BERNAMA