KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the development masterplan for the eastern region of the peninsula will be unveiled by year-end, state media reported.

The blueprint for the East Coast Corridor -- involving the states of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang -- is being drawn up by national oil company Petronas.

"Petronas has briefed the National Investment Task Force and has submitted the document to the Economic Planning Unit implementation committee which I chair," Abdullah said.

"Now, preparations are being made to forward it to the rulers of the three states," he was quoted saying in Kelantan late Thursday by the official Bernama news agency.

Development in the eastern region will focus on the petrochemical, handicraft and tourism sectors, Abdullah said.

Abdullah on Monday announced a 51 billion dollar Northern Corridor Economic Region project involving four northern states and targeting agriculture, tourism, logistics and manufacturing.

The southern Johor state's Iskandar Development Region, was launched earlier this year, aiming to attract 14.5 billion dollars over the next five years as part of an initiative to develop a new Asian metropolis opposite Singapore.

- AFP/ir