The government should consider establishing a special committee in the Prime Minister's Department to study, scrutinise and monitor the implementation of projects it has announced.

The suggestion was made by Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (BN-Tanah Merah) who argued that the effort was to prevent public misperception of the government's efforts to boost and prosper the lives of the people.

"It is also to avoid the perception that the government's announcement on the implementation of a project was just rhetoric," he said when debating the royal address at the Dewan Rakyat today.

He said what was of concern was that if a project was implemented late whilst an announcement on it had been made, it would cause people to think that the government was not serious in looking after their welfare.

Therefore, the committee would serve to monitor each project announced by the government throughout the country.

In the meantime, Ikmal also proposed the dialogue on the National Transformation (TN50) be extended to secondary schools.

"The dialogue programme at the school level can involve the participation of Form Five, six and upper six students.

"In this day and age, we do not underestimate the level of thinking of school students. They will surely have ideas and views which can be shared for TN50," he said.

The meeting continues tomorrow. - BERNAMA