SHAH ALAM - Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad praises Kelantanese who are seen as efficient in doing business and willing to take risks.
He said that the people in the state were synonymous with doing business, up to the point of sending Kelantanese delicacies to other states daily especially in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
He said Kelantan would become more prosperous and successful if the state's resources and the abilities of its people were properly introduced.
"I know Kelantan is famous for its rice and dishes. One of the famous ones is Kak Chik’s dished rice from Tumpat.
"After my meeting, I stopped by to see the process of making the food up until packaging and delivery. The chef said they start cooking as early as 3am.
"They make up to 10,000 packs a day, it is sold in this shop and some are packed and sent by plane or car to the Klang Valley," he said in a Facebook post today.
He said this after a meeting with Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud and members of the State Government Council to discuss the development in the state.
Dr Mahathir said that the discussion focused on increasing investment, the use of land as capital and a solution to the issue of clean water supply.
As part of the State Government 4 (SG4) programme, he believed that investors would be interested in coming to the state if it was able to provide basic facilities such as a good road system, water supply and electricity.
He added that the people of Kelantan were able to supply labour when the industry opened because many Kelantanese migrated to the Klang Valley to fill job vacancies.
"Most of the residents here are involved in business activities and most of them are small-scale industries.
"Not many manufacturing industries from abroad are based here except the ROHM-Wako Electronics company from Japan, originally in Selangor but chose to relocate and open a factory in Kota Bharu in 1989," he commented.