Kuala terengganu: The Regent of Terengganu, Tengku Muhammad Ismail Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, today called on the state government to formulate strategies to shift from exporting raw materials to developing downstream products, in line with the Bumiputera Economic Transformation Plan 2035 launched by the federal government.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, His Royal Highness emphasized the importance of a structural economic transformation to reduce the state's dependence on the volatile petroleum royalty income and to narrow development gaps between districts. He highlighted that by establishing a downstream industrial ecosystem, Terengganu could enhance its economic value chain through product development, job creation, and more stable revenue generation.
The Regent also mentioned that the development of downstream industrial clusters would attract high-value investments and accelerate innovation-driven economic growth. This would position Terengganu as a sustainable and competitive state by 2030, in line with the Terengganu New Economy Transformation (TNEXT) goals. His remarks were made during the opening of the fourth session of the 15th Terengganu State Legislative Assembly at Wisma Darul Iman, where Tengku Sri Setia Mahkota Raja Tengku Dato Seri Muhammad Mua'az was also present.
Tengku Muhammad Ismail expressed concerns over the imbalanced development between districts, such as Kemaman, which benefits from a more advanced industrial sector compared to other districts. He emphasized the need to address this to avoid serious socio-economic consequences. The Regent advocated for strengthening agricultural production activities and infrastructure under the Terengganu Food Production Hub to enable industry players to expand and increase output.
He further suggested that the transformation of the agricultural sector be implemented through the use of technology such as smart farming and precision agriculture, evolving the sector into a modern and commercially viable industry. This effort, he noted, would increase incomes and support the national food security agenda.
Looking ahead to Visit Terengganu 2027, His Royal Highness called for enhancements in various tourism attractions, including cultural tourism, ecotourism, and quality accommodation. He also stressed the importance of cleanliness, urging efficient waste management and a culture of environmental cleanliness among the people.
Additionally, Tengku Muhammad Ismail identified non-radioactive rare earth elements (NR-REE) as a new revenue source with strong potential for exploration. He called on the government to establish proper planning and guidelines to ensure effective management and returns for the state, suggesting a shift from exporting these minerals as raw materials to focusing on downstream product development.
Regarding infrastructure, the Regent noted that the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project in Terengganu has reached 97 percent completion, expected to transform the state's logistics landscape into an East Coast logistics hub. He urged the state government to leverage this infrastructure to enhance competitiveness within the domestic economy.
He also addressed the decline in housing indicators under the Malaysian Well-being Index, noting a 1.9 percent decrease in 2024 compared with 2023. Factors such as reduced home ownership affordability and the supply of housing units relative to B40 households were cited. The Regent expressed hope that efforts to provide good and comfortable housing facilities would be intensified to improve the quality of life for low-income groups.
Finally, Tengku Muhammad Ismail stressed that integrity must remain a key pillar in governance to maintain public trust. He called for more initiatives to strengthen integrity and cultivate a high-integrity culture, emphasizing that ethical values must go beyond documentation and be embedded in transparent work practices at all levels of the organization.