PENANG, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- Detailed information on projects to be undertaken in each state under the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) will be known by early next year, said Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

He said that Sime Darby Berhad, which had been appointed the lead agency to formulate the master plan for the NCER, was in discussions with federal agencies and the state governments involved in preparing the sectoral development of the corridor in detail.

"According to the schedule, the sectoral plans are expected to be completed by next month," he said when replying to a question from Datuk Abdul Jalil Abdul Majid (BN-Penanti) at the State Assembly's sitting here today.

Abdul Jalil had wanted to know the total allocation that would be given to Penang under the NCER.

To another question by Wong Mun Hoe (BN-Pantai Jerejak), Koh said that as of September, there were 136 companies in Penang that had been given Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) status.

Of the number only 11 were foreign companies.