Royal presence: Sultan Sallehuddin and Sultanah Maliha arriving for the investiture ceremony at Istana Anak Bukit in Alor Setar yesterday. — Bernama
ALOR SETAR: The Sultan of Kedah Al-Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah has expressed hopes that the development projects on Kedah’s wish list will receive attention and immediate action from the Federal Government.
Sultan Sallehuddin said this is crucial to realise the state government’s efforts to improve welfare and boost the economy, especially through fiscal incentives for maintaining padi fields.
“As I have been informed, Mentri Besar (Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor) presented Kedah’s wish list of development projects to the Prime Minister during the special Kedah State Development meeting on May 4.
“I appreciate the Prime Minister’s concern, especially regarding the 1,750 hardcore poor families in Kedah who urgently need assistance.
“I have been informed that this number has been reduced by 77% to 404 families,” Sultan Sallehuddin said at the awards and medals investiture ceremony in conjunction with his 82nd birthday celebration at Istana Anak Bukit here yesterday, Bernama reported.
The Sultanah of Kedah Sultanah Maliha Tengku Ariff, Raja Muda of Kedah Tengku Sarafudin Badlishah Sultan Sallehuddin and Raja Puan Muda of Kedah Che Puan Muda Zaheeda Mohamad Ariff were also in attendance.
Also present were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Muhammad Sanusi as well as members of the state executive council.
Sultan Sallehuddin expressed his hope that the Prime Minister and the Federal Government would approve the request for RM200mil in fiscal incentives for the state government.
His Royal Highness said this incentive is a reciprocating mechanism, considering Kedah maintains 113,000ha of padi fields that contribute 43% to the nation’s rice self-sustainability.
“With this incentive, my government can assist poor families, including farmers, by boosting household incomes, enhancing education, meeting basic needs and breaking the cycle of poverty,” the Sultan said.
Sultan Sallehuddin also proposed enhancing urban development along the border, especially involving two districts in the state.
He said nearly 50% of the Special Border Economic Zone (SBEZ) areas, including Bukit Kayu Hitam and Kedah Rubber City, are managed by fully-owned subsidiaries of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated, namely Northern Gateway Sdn Bhd (NGX) and the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority.
“From a regional economic perspective, I am also aware of the progress in border town development between Malaysia and Thailand involving the districts of Kubang Pasu and Padang Terap,” the Ruler said.
Sultan Sallehuddin also highlighted Kedah’s significant investment and economic achievements, exceeding RM100bil during the 12th Malaysia Plan and the Kedah Development Plan 2035, initiated in 2021.
The Ruler emphasised that these achievements showcase Kedah’s potential to attract investors interested in expanding their businesses in the state.
“The principle of ‘ease of doing business’, including initiatives like the E10 Express Construction Permit and expedited Land Use Change processes, has been instrumental in attracting investors,” the Sultan added.
At the investiture ceremony, the Prime Minister headed the list of 238 recipients of state honours.
Anwar was awarded the Darjah Seri Setia Sultan Sallehuddin Kedah Yang Amat Dihormati (SSSK), which carries the title of “Datuk Seri Diraja”.
Sultan Sallehuddin conferred the Datuk Seri Setia Pahlawan Yang Amat Dihormat (SSPK), which carries the title of “Datuk Seri Pahlawan” on the Chief of Defence Force Jen Tan Sri Mohammad Ab Rahman.
Three recipients were awarded the Darjah Gemilang Wira Mahkota Kedah Yang Amat Dihormati (DGWK), which carries the title “Datuk Wira”.
They were Kedah Finance Officer Datuk Syed Khairol Anuar Syed Abidin, Army chief Jen Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan and Health director-general Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan.
Sultan Sallehuddin also consented to award the Darjah Datuk Setia Sultan Sallehuddin Kedah (DSSS), which carries the title of “Datuk”, to state education, religion, communication and information committee chairman Mohd Azam Abd Samat, AFK Group chief executive officer Tan Sri Dr Azmil Khalili Khalid and Kol (Rtd) Datuk Mohd Aros Othman.
Nine recipients received the Darjah Datuk Setia Diraja Kedah (DSDK), which carries the title “Datuk” including Kota Setar district officer Hakim Ariff Md Noor, Kedah deputy state secretary Dr Nadzman Mustaffa, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Ching Thoo Kim and Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) vice-chancellor Prof Dr Mohd Foad Sakdan.
