The Perak Menteri Besar posing for a group photo with guests present while holding the Report Card 2021 book.

IPOH, 20 January 2022 – Perak Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Saarani Mohamad outlined five main focuses as an important agenda of the state government in 2022 during the Executive Talk and New Year Message 2022.

All five focuses are key to the important agenda of the Perak State Government. The five focuses are as follows: -

1. Increasing State Revenue

To strengthen efforts to make Perak an investor-friendly state, he intends to hold a Together with Investor Day once a month.

He is confident that with the right strategy, revenue collection through commitment and hard work can be improved. Among the steps that can be taken are as follows: -

• To prepare a comprehensive plan to ensure that the collection target of RM81 million via seven (7) new revenue categories announced in the 2022 Budget can be realised.
• To simplify the tax collection process by introducing more digital payment methods.
• To strengthen enforcement more objectively to prevent revenue leakage, including whitening issues towards illegal encroachment on government land.
• To strengthen labour movement and reinforce engagement-based actions, efficient strategies and identify potential resources that can generate state revenue.

2. Cultivating Service Beyond the Ordinary

The state administration has agreed to hold the Perak Government Meet the Customer Day on the second Tuesday of every month starting this February.

3. Improving the Wellbeing of the People

It is hoped that the Perak Health Department would further strengthen the implementation of Mental Health Services and Social Support at the state and district levels, including in hospitals and health clinics to help stabilise the emotions of affected individuals.

4. Strengthening Digital Services and Infrastructure

Among the main focus of the Perak State Government in 2022 is the implementing of the Cashless Payment channel for the people in line with the Malaysian Government's initiative via the Digital Economy Blueprint (MyDIGITAL).

Our main target is to achieve 100% of state government departments and agencies having cashless payment channels by 2023.

5. Addressing the Impacts of Climate Change

There are three things that need to be taken into account in preparing the state for the possibility of more extreme disasters in the future.

• To prepare mitigation measures via early warning system and mobilisation of disaster management assets. We may have an adequate warning system and assets, but it needs to be followed up with a structured mitigation plan.
• To address structural and bureaucratic issues that have so far prevented us from achieving the potential of providing better service in crisis management.
• To strengthen synergy and coordination in managing crises and disasters. In a crisis and disaster situation, the layers in decision making must be minimised as much as possible because in critical times, the lives of the people are more important than anything else.

In fact, the ‘Perak Bumi Lestari’ agenda which is the backbone in formulating the state’s development needs to be further strengthened. Among the steps that can be taken to achieve these goals are as follows: -

• Conserving forests and terrestrial ecosystems and accelerating forest restoration. The Malaysian Greening Programme and the 100 Million Tree Planting Campaign must succeed with the full involvement of community members.
• Strengthening enforcement related to environmental protection. Integrated operations involving various enforcement agencies need to be intensified to combat illegal forest exploration or logging, as well as monitoring using the latest technology applications such as the Forest Monitoring Using Remote Sensing (FMRS) system.
• Expanding the use of green technology. We need to pave the way for smart partnerships, especially with the private sector to implement green technology initiatives to tackle the effects of climate change.
• Improving the solid waste management system. Many scientific studies show that weaknesses in the solid waste management system not only threaten the environment because it causes pollution detrimental to the people, but also the cause of temperature increase and climate change mitigation.

The five main thrusts were presented by Perak Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Saarani Mohamad in his speech during the Executive Talk and New Year Message 2022 at the Perak State Secretariat Banquet Hall.

Also present were State Assembly Speaker Dato' Mohamed Zahir Abd. Khalid, State Secretary Dato' Ahmad Suaidi Abdul Rahim, State Legal Adviser Dato’ Azmir Shah Zainal Abidin, State Financial Officer Dato' Zulazlan Abu Hassan and State Executive Councillors.

Source : Corporate, SUK Perak.