PUTRAJAYA: Ministries must prioritise development projects that will benefit the people more, even if they result in lower economic returns to the country.

This will be the Government’s focus for the next few years, to ensure such projects are carried out.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said he would be talking with the ministry officials concerned on how to readjust their priorities, particularly for Budget 2017.

He and his deputy Datuk Seri S. K. Devamany will also personally visit “people’s projects” to monitor their progress to ensure no delays and hiccups happen.

“For now, we will see to it that approvals are given to projects that will have a great impact on the people.

“We will give priority to these, as the Government aims to balance out development and growth not only between rural and urban areas, but between east coast and west coast regions, and also between Sabah, Sarawak and the peninsular,” he said at a Hari Raya function held by the Economic Planning Unit.

Abdul Rahman admitted that there would be challenges, but believed that with some re-organisation, a tighter focus and outside-the-box methods, the target could be met and people would benefit from development brought by the Government.

He said that primary infrastructure, utilities and projects that could provide convenience and comfort to the people and allow them to actually experience and appreciate said development would be given priority.

The minister also wants officers in the Economic Planning Unit and its agencies to be social media savvy and make use of this platform to relay information and interact with the public.

“We need to make laymen understand the basic fundamentals of the economy.

“What better way to do this than through Twitter, Instagram and Facebook?” said the minister, who is known to be active on social media platforms.