Pakatan states not sidelined in ETP, says Idris

Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) chief Idris Jala insists that none of the Pakatan Rakyat-ruled states have been sidelined in the recently unveiled Economic Transformation Programme.

"No state has been left behind, including opposition-run states. Many of the entry point projects are in Penang and Selangor," he said, when asked at a conference today.

In fact, he added, the Greater Kuala Lumpur national key economic area has been reworded to "Greater KL/Klang Valley (as) it involves many of the Selangor municipal council areas".

Idris( left ) admitted that they did not sit down with the decision-makers in the states, having only engaged them by inviting their representatives to the eight-week laboratories.

The minister, however, did not feel that a greater level of consultation was required for the two states, main stakeholders for at least two of the national key economics areas.

This includes the electrical and electronics industry with its hub located in Penang.

"I have not sat individually with the chief ministers of other states. (The chief minister/menteri besar of Pakatan states) are treated the same way," he said.

He added that this is because the programme is very much private sector-led, and they choose the project locations based on commercial viability.

At the same time, Idris said that the public sector is involved in a considerable chunk of projects under Greater Kuala Lumpur, as they are mostly infrastructure projects.

"You would be hard-pressed to find the private sector willing to pay for infrastructure," he said.

The Selangor government has already expressed concern over several projects mooted, including the Klang River rejuvenation project, as the river straddles both the state and Federal Territory.

While a briefing was conducted in July at the Menteri Besar's office, many details were missing and the state only learnt of them at the programme's open day last month.

Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim has expressed interest in meeting with Idris to discuss areas where the programme overlaps with state plans.