KKDW SETS UP 375 PENANG MADANI VILLAGE COMMUNITY COMMITTEES - AHMAD ZAHID

BUTTERWORTH, Dec 15 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) has established 375 Penang MADANI Village Community Committees (JKDM) in phases since March 1 as a complement and added value in efforts to support the people.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said the JKDM had also been established in Selangor and Sabah as part of the ministry's continued efforts to eradicate hardcore poverty among those in the rural community.

"In addition, it is hoped that the JKDM, which is headed by a chairman and assisted by a secretary and 11 committee members, can become a platform connecting the KKDW and the rural community.

"The state Community Development Department (KEMAS) is the main organiser of the implementation of the JKDM and, this year, the KKDW has allocated RM1.875 million for the provision of a one-off JKDM governance incentive of RM5,000 to enable the committee that has been set up to implement community development-based activities in their respective localities," he said.

He said this after the Appreciation Ceremony of One Year Implementation of Penang’s JKDM and the establishment of the Civil Defence Auxiliary Emergency Response Team (CDA-ERT) among Penang’s JKDM Villages at the PICCA Convention Centre here, which was also attended by Civil Defence Force (APM) chief commissioner Datuk Aminurrahim Mohamed and KEMAS director-general Datuk Mohd Hanafiah Man.

Ahmad Zahid said the JKDM is also eligible to apply for the Sejati MADANI Grant under the management of the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) of the Prime Minister's Department (JPM) and, thus far, applications from 88 Penang JKDMs have been approved with an overall allocation of RM8.45 million.

He said that in June, the KKDW, in collaboration with the APM, carried out a basic disaster management training programme for 41 Penang JKDM personnel.

"The three-day training, conducted at the APM Northern Region Training Centre (PULAPAU) in Baling, Kedah, had exposed the Penang JKDM personnel to basic knowledge on tackling disasters, such as CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), bandaging wounds and fire fighting," he said.

He said JKDM personnel who complete the training will be appointed as CDERT personnel and will be invited to play an active role as volunteer personnel of APM at their respective APM District Offices, besides having the opportunity to undergo professional development training organised by the Institute of Rural Development (INFRA) under the KKDW.

"The JKDM is the main machinery to assist the Penang government in strengthening the agenda to prosper the people in this state and, as a minister in the KKDW, although there are Village Community Management Councils (MPKK) in this and other states, we are not looking to compete or be rivals.

"Instead, we want to contribute to joint coordination and, when the time comes, both the JKDM and MPKK will combine to carry out tasks and duties at the grassroots level for the benefit of everyone," he said.   

-- BERNAMA