PETALING JAYA: The continued development of people-oriented public transportation projects will help bring a myriad of economic benefits to Malaysia, says Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (pic).

       He cited projects such as the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), Circle Line (MRT3) and the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) as crucial to economic recovery efforts as Covid-19 will become endemic in the country.

       “I am of the view that the community also has to be ready to live with Covid-19 in the future as the pandemic has changed our daily lives, various economic ecosystems and development trends.

       “As such, we will continue monitoring developments in the market and implementing investor-friendly policies, including assisting in boosting and the recovery of local industries,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday.

       Dr Wee added that projects such as ECRL, MRT3 and RTS must be fully developed to allow them to bring various economic benefits to the nation. He had posted his thoughts after holding a virtual meeting with the new leadership of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) on Tuesday.

       On his meeting with the new ACCCIM leadership, he said discussions focused on the upcoming Budget 2022, among others.

       Dr Wee, who is also MCA president, said ACCCIM had made several proposals to the government.

       “ACCCIM proposed that the government give attention not only to the National Recovery Plan, but also on improving the SOP (standard operating procedure) in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.

       Leaders of the business community also urged the government to be more transparent and provide the relevant statistics with regard to the pandemic, he added.

       Dr Wee said the proposals touched on improving the national healthcare system while strengthening the nation’s capacity to deal with the pandemic.

       He said that ACCCIM had also proposed several measures such as various subsidies and aid, tax relief and exemption to help ease the burden of the rakyat and industry.

       Present at the virtual meeting were ACCCIM president Datuk Low Kian Chuan, honorary president Tan Sri William Cheng, deputy president Datuk Ng Yih Pyng, secretary-general Datuk Tan Tian Meng and treasurer Koong Lin Loong.

       Low is also president of National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia while Ng is his deputy president.