ALOR SETAR: The Kedah government has been urged to establish an evaluation team to assess the capability of private companies intending to undertake development projects in the state, to prevent abandoned projects. Kedah State Legislative Assembly Opposition Leader Bau Wong Bau Ek said the team must be capable of identifying companies with solid investment potential and weeding out weaker firms or potential scammers. “To avoid abandoned private sector projects, the state government must set up an efficient and trustworthy evaluation team to enable more precise and effective assessments,” he said. He was speaking during the debate on the Kedah Budget 2025 at the assembly sitting in Wisma Darul Aman here today.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, for the tourism sector, Bau Wong suggested the state government appoint private entities to promote Kedah as a premier destination, as such entities could bear the development costs. “I believe it is appropriate for private parties to be entrusted with developing certai
n areas or tourism products, as they can bear the costs. My hope is to see Kedah emerge as a leading state contributing to Malaysia’s economic growth through tourism,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bau Wong expressed support for the Federal Government’s efforts to foster harmony among people from diverse backgrounds and socio-economic levels, deeming it a crucial agenda for a peaceful and prosperous nation. “Following the recent incident involving the waving of foreign flags, some parties have tried to exploit the situation to sow discord and create tension. Although this incident occurred outside Kedah, we hope such actions will not happen here. The unity of our multi-racial and multi-religious population is the backbone of our strength as a successful nation,” he said.