Malaysia launches 33.2 billion dollar development plan

The East Coast Economic Corridor (ECER) project, drawn up by national oil company Petronas, is the third and final of a series of big-spending development master plans which have been rolled out ahead of expected snap polls.

The government said the 12-year plan was designed to create 560,000 new jobs and raise income levels for nearly 4 million people -- some 15 percent of the population.

It will involve more than 200 projects in transportation, infrastructure, tourism, education, manufacturing, the oil and gas industries and agriculture.

"The launch of the ECER and its master plan signals a push to accelerate the growth of the eastern region in a viable, equitable and sustainable manner aimed at raising incomes and reducing poverty," the government was quoted by Thomson Financial as saying in a statement.