1. What is the East Coast Economic Region (ECER)?
ECER covers the states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and the district of Mersing in Johor with the objective of narrowing the development disparities among states.

2. Why is Mersing included in the ECER?
Mersing is included as it shares many similarities in terms of natural resources for tourism and issues such as the lack of infrastructure and poverty. Mersing is also one of the gateways to Pulau Tioman with Pahang and shares the Endau Rompin forest.

3. What is the size of land area covered in the ECER?
ECER covers 66,736 sq km of land, representing 51 per cent of Peninsular Malaysia.

4. What is the ECER Master Plan?
The ECER Master Plan is a development plan undertaken on a regional approach involving the whole states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and the district of Mersing in Johor.

• The Master Plan will be implemented over 12 years until 2020.
• More importantly, the Master Plan is created for the people in ECER.  
• This plan aims to resolve the key issues faced in the region:
  • widening disparities between the developed west coast states and the less developed eastern region;
• income inequalities between rural and urban areas;
• high incidences of hard core poverty;
• accessibility to the region;
• basic infrastructure (e.g. flood mitigation, water supply & sewerage systems); and
• optimising property sector, including maximising Malay Reserve Land potential.

5. What are the main objectives of the ECER Master Plan?

To accelerate the socio-economic growth of the region in a viable, equitable and sustainable manner to be on par with the more developed west coast states.

This will be through the development of programmes to raise income and reduce poverty by expanding employment prospects via the introduction of high impact, catalytic projects.

The ECER Master Plan translates the Ninth Malaysian Plan into effective project implementation and initiatives.

6.   What is the Vision of ECER?
To be a developed region by year 2020.
At the same time, it is recognised that the region is distinctive in terms of its culture, heritage and values; and it needs to be dynamic and competitive.

7.   What is the ECER Master Plan’s main focus?
The ECER Master Plan has 5 main clusters:

• Toursim
• Oil, Gas and Petrochemicals
• Manufacturing
• Agriculture
• Education

In addition, the ECER Master Plan also focuses on the following 4 main enablers: Transportation, Infrastructure, Real Estate and Environment.

8.   Why is it known as the East Coast Economic Region and not East Coast Corridor like the Northern Corridor?

• Although the terminology is different, the concept is the same which is to undertake development in an integrated basis.
• In ECER, there are several development corridors and sub-corridors which will be established and developed along the transportation and communication networks. The main corridor in the ECER is the East Coast Corridor, the Gua Musang whereas the sub-corridors cover the East Coast Corridor, the North-South Corridor, the Lumut-Gua Musang-Kuala Terengganu Corridor and the Kuantan-Segamat-Melaka Corridor.
• The terminology “East Coast Economic Region" is more apt since the ECER’s objective is to develop the economy in the region. This terminology also avoids confusion since the ECER has several development corridors and sub-corridors.

9. How different would ECER be from IDR and NCER?

• IDR is a different development approach. IDR’s focus is to boost the property and real estate development in southern Johor to be on par with Singapore.
• NCER and ECER’s development approach is quite similar as they share a few similar issues.
• ECER has a distinctive culture and heritage which needs to be preserved, but at the same time it needs to be economically transformed to be more dynamic and competitive.
• ECER’s development recommendations are based on the resource potential of the region.
• More than half of this region is covered with forest areas, hence all the key projects planned have taken cognizance of the need to preserve the environment. 
• Given the socio-economic issues and challenges faced by the ECER, there are strong social thrusts in the Master Plan.
• However, the developments within the three regions will complement each other

10. What are the key strengths of ECER?

• Strong resources endowment.
• Considerable labour pool especially in the rural areas and among females.
• Competitive wage rates compared to the west coast states.
• Strong potential for property development.
• Lower cost of living. As an example, the Food Price Index in the ECER is at 91.35 to 96.89 in 2006 which is lower compared to Kuala Lumpur at 100.
• Good education system and other basic community services.
• Advantageous geographical orientation

The Master Plan also details measures to eradicate poverty and improve income distribution in a sustainable manner for the ECER.

The ECER’s distinctive natural resources, culture & heritage will form the basis for transforming the economy into one that is dynamic and competitive in light of greater regional and global competition and economic liberalisation.