KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Economy said the East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) will implement all recommendations and suggestions in the National Audit Report 2/2024, including establishing a database to measure the socioeconomic progress of target groups. In a written reply posted on the Parliament website, the ministry said that ECERDC will also hold engagement sessions with all stakeholders to formulate strategies and further enhance investment promotion activities in the industrial parks within the East Coast Economic Region (ECER).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, ECERDC will focus on facilitating and realising investments by cooperating with the Malaysian Investment Development Authority to promote industrial parks in ECER. This initiative is part of the ministry’s response to a question from Shaharizukirnain Abd Kadir (PN-Setiu) regarding current and upcoming measures to address the weaknesses of project management and programmes under ECER as highlighted in the audit report.

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eanwhile, in another development, the Ministry of Economy informed that the federal government has approved a total of RM6.3 billion to implement development projects in Sabah for 2024. “Out of this total, RM151.2 million has been allocated to fund 40 development projects in Kota Marudu,” it said. This allocation is part of the broader efforts to boost socioeconomic activities and drive economic growth in the state.

The ministry also addressed a question from Datuk Wetrom Bahanda (KDM-Kota Marudu) regarding the allocation implemented for 2024 to uplift the economy of the Kota Marudu residents and the proposed allocation for the district in 2025. Based on Budget 2025, RM79.7 million has been allocated to Kota Marudu, compared to the overall allocation of RM6.7 billion for Sabah.