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The East Coast Economic Region in Peninsular Malaysia is an economic development corridor launched in 2007. This economic zone covers the states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Mersing district, north of Johor.

The aim of the East Coast Economic Region is to promote and transform the states into major tourism destinations and exporters of energy, resource-based products, agricultural and manufactured goods.

The master plan of East Coast Economic Region spans 11 years and targets to create more than 500,000 new jobs by the year 2020. It also targets to implement 189 projects with an estimated value of RM112 billion between 2007 and 2020.

The master plan of East Coast Economic Region spans 11 years and targets to create more than 500,000 new jobs by the year 2020. It also targets to implement 189 projects with an estimated value of RM112 billion between 2007 and 2020.

A key socio-economic objective of the master plan is to eradicate hard core poverty due to the wide economic gap between the states under the East Coast Economic Region and the rest of the states in Malaysia. The master planner of this region is Malaysia’s national oil and gas company, Petronas.

The East Coast Economic Region Development Council administers and monitors the progress of the East Coast Economic Region Master Plan and its intended implementation of projects. Some of the projects are listed below:

Transportation

• Upgrade of railway system operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) between Kerteh and Kuantan) and to add on more railway lines connecting Mentakab – Kuantan – Kuala Terengganu – Tanah Merah/Pasir Mas.
• Update of railway system and to connect railway line from Tanah Merah/Pasir Mas – Butterworth and Kuala Lumpur – Mentakab.
• Upgrade and extension of the length of the East Coast Expressway connecting Kuantan and Kuala Terengganu – Kota Bharu, ending in Pengkalan Kubor. Other connections in the pipeline are between Kuantan and Johor.

• Construction of Lebir Dam in Kelantan to ensure sufficient potable water supply.
• Laying fibre optic cables along major towns.
• Flood mitigation projects in Kelantan and Terengganu.