Five Corridor Regions Attract RM87.56 Bln In Total Investments Up To Oct 31 -- Amir Hamzah

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 (Bernama) -- The country’s five economic corridor regions have successfully attracted total investments amounting to RM87.56 billion in the first 10 months of this year, said Finance Minister II and acting Economy Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.

Amir Hamzah said that between January and October 31 of this year, the five corridors successfully created 108,243 jobs.

The country’s five economic corridors are under the jurisdiction of the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA), the East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECER), the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA) and the Regional Corridor Investment Authority (RECODA). 

“In addition, we are implementing a Corridor Authority (PBK) Impact Assessment, which aims to review the role and function as well as the governance structure of PBK, expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026,” he told the Dewan Rakyat during the debate and winding up of the 2026 Budget at the committee level today.

Responding to the role of the corridor region raised by the Members of Parliament Fathul Huzir Ayob (PN-Gerik) and Datuk Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang), Amir Hamzah said the role and function of the PBK would be more focused on facilitating and realising investments in the economic corridor region in line with the wishes of the National Investment Council. 

“The ministry constantly assesses and monitors the progress of project development through the Ministry-level Development Action Committee Meeting, the Corridor Council Meeting chaired by the Prime Minister and the Coordination Meeting at the state level chaired by the Menteri Besar and Chief Minister,” he said. 

Responding to Fathul Huzir’s interjection regarding the increase in allocation for corridor regions in the Budget 2026, Amir Hamzah said the increase in allocation for projects under NCIA and IRDA involves the development or upgrading of physical infrastructure.

“In addition, there are training programmes, talent development, and a rural investment and entrepreneurship ecosystem,” he said. 

He said that the overall increase for the five PBKs was to cover operating expenses, including marketing and promotion, rental, utilities, services and consultancy, as well as other administrative costs, such as emoluments.

Replying to an interjection by Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff (PN-Rantau Panjang) regarding the abolition of the Perlis State Economic Development Corporation (PKENPs), Amir Hamzah said the matter raised was irrelevant since the Perlis PKEN still exists. 

“The Perlis PKEN still exists, it is just that there are no new project applications and currently the Perlis PKEN is focusing on implementing extension projects,” he said.

-- BERNAMA