A total of RM112 billion is needed to develop the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) for 15 years until 2020, Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Abdul Rahman Sulaiman said that from the amount, 20 percent will be borne by private sectors and another 27 percent by the private finance initiatives (FPI).

"Meanwhile, under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, we need RM28 billion to develop ECER. The government has invested RM17.5 billion.

"Private sectors have invested RM5.6, whereas FPI and GLCs have brought in RM1.5 billion and RM3.2 billion respectively," said Abdul Rahman.

Abdul Rahman was replying a query from Ismail Sabri Yaakob (BN-Bera) who asked the Prime Minister to state the amount of government and private investments in developing ECER, and its programmed and development plans.

Abdul Rahman explained that the government has planned to form ECER development council to function as an agency to implement all developments.

"Only with this initiative can we ascertain if the development gives the positive impact we're hoping to see," said Abdul Rahman.

The ECER is part of a government initiative to accelerate economic growth and elevate income levels in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

Launched by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi last month, the economic initiative covers Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and the north of Mersing district of Johor.

ECER is one of the three development regions formed in Peninsular Malaysia, with the other development regions being the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) in Johor and the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) covering the northern states of Penang, Perak, Kedah and Perlis.

Assault motion rejected

In a separate development, a motion to debate an incident where an Umno member hit a Chinese daily photographer last Friday was shot down by the Dewan Rakyat Speaker.

Speaker Ramli Ngah Talib rejected the motion, which was moved by DAP MP for Cheras Tan Kok Wai under Standing Order 18(2) on the grounds that the matter does not warrant immediate action as it is being investigated by the police.

On Friday, a press conference called by Tan turned into an ugly affair when it was interrupted by a group of Umno members.

The press conference was held at the Cheras multi-purpose hall, which was located in the compound of the Cheras Umno headquarters.

It was called to highlight Umno's alleged abuses of government funds allocated by the Prime Minister's Deparment to build multi-purpose halls in Kuala Lumpur.

Midway through the press conference, a few Umno members came out from the party's office and told Tan's group that they should not be gathering in "their private property".

Guang Ming Daily photographer Koh Chun Seng, who was snapping pictures of the whole incident, was punched by an Umno member.

In his motion, Tan explained that the incident warrants an immediate action because it was shameful of Umno to hit a member of the media.

"It is very deplorable and cannot be seen as a small incident," Tan said, adding that Umno members have gone against the law by hitting the photographer.