The Sultan of Kelantan, Sultan Muhammad V, has urged the state government to take proactive measures to ensure food security in the state. He emphasized the need to carefully scrutinize applications to convert agricultural land into buildings to prevent a reduction in such land and disruption in the food supply chain. The Sultan acknowledged that the current economic situation in 2023 is expected to grow slowly due to global geopolitical tensions, which have led to increased commodity prices and exacerbated global inflation. He stressed the urgency for the government to address the living pressures faced by the people through short-term measures.
Sultan Muhammad V made these remarks during his royal address at the investiture ceremony of the state honors held at the Balai Besar Palace in Kota Baru. The address was read by Tengku Dr Muhammad Faiz Petra Sultan Ismail Petra, the Tengku Mahkota of Kelantan. The Sultan also called for the implementation of a viable investment mission to promote Kelantan as an attractive investment destination. He highlighted the importance of sustainable development and the protection of the environment in the planning process. Additionally, he emphasized the need to develop cities along the borders due to population saturation and concentrated economic activities in these areas.
The Sultan expressed hope that high-impact infrastructure projects, such as the Kota Baru-Kuala Krai expressway, the Central Spine Road, the East Coast Rail Line (ECRL), and the Sultan Ismail Petra airport upgrade, would be completed as per the schedule. He also emphasized the importance of managing water resources sustainably and holistically, including the reduction of non-revenue water (NRW), which stood at 53.7% last year.
The Sultan voiced his concern about the issue of Syariah crime being downplayed by some members of the community. He called on the state government to take the matter seriously and safeguard the Syariah Criminal Code to eradicate and prevent the spread of such crimes. The Sultan extended his appreciation to the previous government for their contributions to the state’s progress and congratulated the new leadership, led by Mentri Besar Datuk Muhd Nassuruddin Daud, for assuming their roles in the 15th term.
– Bernama
Credit: The Star : News Feed
