KUALA LUMPUR – Negri Sembilan, Johor and Melaka government officials will meet to discuss the latter’s proposal for a Southern Gateway Economic Corridor.
Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, who announced this, said the proposed economic corridor would prioritise the industrial and investment sectors, and would bring positive impact on the “economic chain” of the three states involved.
“We have discussed the matter, but not in detail. We will hold a meeting, insya-Allah, among the three states, Johor, Melaka and Negri Sembilan, to discuss the matter further,” Bernama reported him saying after opening Negeri Sembilan Fest 2024 in Nilai today.
Aminuddin was commenting on the proposal by Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, who three days ago proposed a Southern Gateway Economic Corridor covering the three states.
Rauf said a steering committee would be formed to initiate discussions, coordination and studies related to the establishment of the economic corridor.
“Given that these three states are contiguous, a development corridor that provides mutual benefits to the states and their people must be created,” he said.
Besides the industrial sector, Rauf had also mentioned cooperation between the three states in the tourism sector.
He also spoke of a review of the West Coast Highway project to alleviate traffic congestion on the North-South Expressway, calling for Negri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor to jointly re-submit a proposal to the federal government for the highway.
When announcing his proposal for the Southern Gateway Economic Corridor to Melaka civil servants on Thursday, Rauf said the idea of a West Coast Highway would link Banting in Selangor to Gelang Patah in Johor.
According to The Star, the highway was first proposed by former works minister Tun S. Samy Vellu in 1997. – July 28, 2024