KUANTAN, March 28 — The Regent of Pahang Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has stressed that he refused to see any ‘sick’ or delayed projects and all locations in the state were not left behind in terms of communication.

He said the state and federal governments should work closely in implementing urgent and high-impact projects under the 12th Malaysia Plan and the 2022 Budget as well as the available allocations should be spent quickly and correctly so that the people enjoy the benefits.

"This includes the implementation of flood mitigation projects and the development of disaster warning systems as well as the improvement of drainage systems in locations at high risk of disasters.  All departments and agencies can expedite the implementation of approved projects by complying with existing rules and procedures.

"I do not want to see any locations, especially in rural areas that still do not receive internet coverage. Areas that receive slow internet speed need to be improved from time to time,” he said.

Tengku Hassanal said this at the opening of the First Meeting of the Fifth Session of the 14th Pahang State Legislative Assembly at Wisma Sri Pahang here today.

Regarding the floods, Tengku Hassanal ordered the state government to speed up efforts to establish new settlements to evacuate those often affected by the disaster, besides touching on the actions of the government led by Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail to help flood victims with various forms of assistance amounting to RM71 million.

He also commended the state government's proactive action to attract RM987 million of domestic investment and RM9.8 billion of foreign investment to Pahang, besides the success of bringing in new investments worth RM5.5 billion earlier this year involving investment companies from Singapore, South Korea and China.

"These investments must be well managed in order to provide benefits, both in terms of employment opportunities as well as economic prosperity, to the people of Pahang,” he said.

Despite being optimistic that the revenue collection target of RM1 billion for this year could be achieved with the commitment of all parties, Tengku Hassanal reminded the state government administration to continue to improve the efficiency of state revenue collection management which needs to be implemented with integrity without burdening the people.

On education, Tengku Hassanal wanted the state government to set a mission to ensure Pahang has the best educational institutions including schools, colleges, universities and tahfiz centres that can be achieved through the implementation of appropriate strategies and commitment of all parties.

He further said that the state government should continue to increase the area of ​​permanent forest reserve (HSK) every year, even though 7,000 hectares have been added to the state HSK and forest reserve areas, bringing the total HSK in the state to 1.6 million hectares thus far. Pahang is the state with the largest forest reserve in Peninsular Malaysia.

"I am mobilising efforts to preserve the environment, including initiatives to preserve the Malayan Tiger which is now on the verge of extinction. If we all do not pay due attention, it is not impossible for our grandchildren to know the Malayan Tiger only through the national Coat of Arms or on the passport cover,” he said. — Bernama