HSR can be economic booster shot for Melaka, says Najib

 

Former prime minister Najib Razak said Melaka’s GDP growth had fallen since the 14th general election in 2018 and the state needs a stable political climate to progress. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Melaka’s economy needs a booster shot because it is one of the states that has been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, former prime minister Najib Razak said.

He said this could come from the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail (HSR) line, which would benefit the state that has been a popular tourism destination because of its historical attractions.

“Once the HSR project is revived, a lot of medium and long-term investors will invest in tourism, housing and hotels, among other projects,” he said in a Facebook posting today.

Najib also gave a commitment that Barisan Nasional leaders and he would assist to bring investments to the state that once had the highest gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 8.3% in 2017, compared with the country’s GDP of 5.9% at that time.

However, he said Melaka’s GDP rate had fallen since the 14th general election in 2018, recording a disastrous -5.9% growth in 2020.

Najib added he had received positive signs from several foreign and local investors of wanting to invest in Melaka, if Barisan Nasional won in the state election on Nov 20.

He said 30% of the tax collection could be channelled to the B40 and M40 groups, as well as small and medium enterprises, to help revive the state economy.

“Attention has to be given to Melaka which has been left far behind after GE14,” he said.

For this to happen, the winning coalition needed a strong mandate from the voters to avoid the political instability it has experienced since the 2018 polls, he added. - FMT