KOTA BARU: The Sultan of Kelantan, Sultan Muhammad V, has expressed deep concerns over security issues along the Malaysia-Thailand border.
The Ruler said there is an urgent need to finalise the proposal for building a wall and creating a buffer zone in the Sungai Golok area.
He also highlighted the recurring flood problem in the state, saying the integrated river basin projects for Sungai Kelantan and Sungai Golok must be expedited in all its phases.
“Priority must be given to the construction of the Lebir Dam, as it is crucial in addressing the challenges posed by floods in Kelantan,” he said in his royal address when opening the Third Term of the 15th Kelantan Legislative Assembly here yesterday, Bernama reported.
Sultan Muhammad V also urged government agencies, departments and companies involved in the agricultural sector to remain focused on their core responsibilities of ensuring food security.
“I strongly encourage the government and public to explore and cultivate high-potential crops, such as coconuts and durians, as valuable sources of income within the agricultural sector,” the Ruler added.
In line with the Kelantan Agricultural Development Enactment (2022), he called for the immediate development of an agricultural produce collection centre in Lojing to avoid losing out on revenue, investment and economic growth.
Sultan Muhammad V also urged local authorities to focus on ensuring that towns in Kelantan remained clean, beautiful and vibrant, besides being effectively managed.
“I hope that all local authorities, with the full support of the government, will address the issue of abandoned buildings and capitalise on the economic opportunities within the city to further boost development,” he added.
The Ruler also emphasised the need to accelerate infrastructure development while offering competitive tax exemption incentives to attract more investments to Kelantan.
“For instance, the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project is poised to bring new strategic value to the state, particularly through the establishment of a cargo-oriented development zone in Pasir Puteh and a transit-oriented development hub in the emerging township of Tunjong,” he said.
The Ruler also urged the state government to explore and introduce alternative education platforms – mainly in the field of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) – to better align with current industry demands.
