Ipoh: Perak is on the right track in its post-pandemic socioeconomic recovery efforts and has laid out various initiatives for the well-being of its people by 2030, said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad. He stated that as the Perak Sejahtera 2030 development plan enters its third year, there have been significant improvements in the people's standard of living.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, since the plan's launch on June 15, 2022, 108 out of the 272 outlined projects and initiatives have been completed. Another 128 are currently in progress, while the remaining 36 are at the pre-implementation stage. The state government has also identified 127 new projects to be listed in the Perak Sejahtera 2030 Dashboard for systematic monitoring and progress reporting, as revealed during the presentation of the Third-Year Progress Report of Perak Sejahtera 2030.
Saarani highlighted that the state government remains committed to accelerating the development of five economic growth nodes and exploring new economic sectors as the plan enters its fourth year. Efforts are being mobilized to strengthen Perak Sejahtera 2030 by exploring new revenue sources, particularly in the Blue, Green, and Care Economies, to boost sustainable state development.
He noted that several economic indicators show that Perak has successfully risen from the downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The state was once on the brink of recession, with a deficit of RM70 million, but has rebounded with a surplus for three consecutive years, including RM64 million in 2023, the highest in Perak's history. The unemployment rate has dropped to 3.9 per cent in 2024 compared to 4.7 per cent in 2021, while the labour force participation rate increased to 65.8 per cent last year.
The strong financial performance and steady economic growth have enabled the state government to increase various welfare allocations, including raising the rate of assistance for those in need. These achievements result from shared governance and close cooperation between the state and federal government in implementing various people-centric initiatives.
At a press conference, Saarani emphasized that political stability is crucial for the success of the Perak Sejahtera 2030 Plan. He cautioned that any acts of sabotage, including spreading slander, could undermine investor confidence. Saarani urged his colleagues, including those in the opposition, to maintain stability despite differing views.
The Perak Sejahtera 2030 Plan was launched when Saarani led the state government through a coalition comprising Barisan Nasional (BN), Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), and PAS. The plan continued after the 15th General Election (GE15) when Saarani was reappointed as Menteri Besar through a BN and Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition.
Saarani expressed gratitude for the achievements thus far but stressed the importance of remaining vigilant and continuously improving the development plan to face various uncertainties.