NOR MOHAMED: 10th MALAYSIA PLAN TO BE MORE FLEXIBLE

PUTRAJAYA, June 5 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian government will take a new
approach in implementing the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP) to make it more flexible
in meeting the changes and challenges of the economic environment.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Nor Mohamed Yakcop, in
stating this Friday, said the 10MP will be more flexible than the existing
five-year development plan.

Nor Mohamed said the 10MP implementation will be carried out in a "rolling"
manner every two years with a review each year to focus on the achievement of
outcome based on the country's strategic vision of development.

With the new approach, the government will not call for a review every
mid-term as what was being done now, he told reporters after presenting
Excellence Service Awards for the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) here.

The implementation of programmes and projects under the 10MP will take into
consideration the government's financial capability, Nor Mohamed said.

"The planning will ensure that development, budget, performance, monitoring
and evaluation of programmes and projects as well as the management information
system are carried out in a more orderly and coordinated manner," he said.

According to Nor Mohamed, the 10MP will be structured based on the new
economic model, due to be announced by the government in the near future.

He said that earlier preparations for the 10MP had already been undertaken
by the EPU.

"For the 10MP, we want to make it a year earlier as the plan period will
begin from 2011 until 2015," he added.

Asked whether the government will revise the highway toll rate, Nor Mohamed
said it has yet to make a decision.

"We have to make a thorough study and will announce the decision in due
course," he said.

The government had earlier directed the EPU to find a comprehensive solution
to the issue of toll increases every three years.

-- BERNAMA