KUALA TERENGGANU, April 13 — The Terengganu government has been urged to put more focus on good governance in all aspects of management, compliance with the law and make transparency of information as its main agenda.
The Sultan of Terengganu, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin said the upgrading of work procedures and reduction of red tape can help to better serve the people as the state moves towards developed status.
“This includes the integrity and accountability values inherent in the state’s leadership. I hope this continues to be practised and improved,” he said when opening the State Assembly at Wisma Darul Iman, here today. He stressed the importance of the people’s input in driving the state’s development in line with the slogan ‘Merakyatkan Pentadbiran dan Pembangunan’.
“Lack of understanding, cooperation and unity between the government and the people will limit the development.”
The state government should also identify strategies, weaknesses, opportunities and barriers to good governance as it aims for high income status. Sultan Mizan also urged the federal government to allocate another RM50 million to Terengganu to replace old water pipes to reduce loss of water.
“Syarikat Air Terengganu (SATU) must be commended for trying to reduce water loss by at least 30 per cent in the next five years.”
He was also satisfied with the economy in 2013 which contributed to the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) amounting to RM20.2 billion.
Focus should be on small and medium enterprises, health, tourism, especially the development of Tasik Kenyir, the construction of affordable housing, commercial farming and poverty eradication.
The Implementation and Coordination Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department said 31,120 people in Terengganu had been removed from the poor list on March 12, 2013. — Bernama
