GEORGE TOWN, Jan 19 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said that the MADANI government is colour-blind in its approach, ensuring that programmes are implemented to meet the needs of all people equally.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, highlighted that four opposition-controlled states received larger allocations from the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) than those governed by the MADANI government.
“This reflects the Prime Minister's (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) commitment to equality, which we translate through the KKDW and other ministries. The key is that the needs of the people must be met, and we remain colour-blind in the execution of these programmes.
“When it comes to rural areas, our focus extends beyond just the Malay community. We’re also addressing the needs of Sabah and Sarawak, with the largest portion of the KKDW’s allocation dedicated to the development of rural areas in these states. Sabah received the largest share, followed by Sarawak,” he said, at a press conference following the closing ceremony of the KKDW 2025 retreat, near here, today.
Regarding the retreat, which concluded today, Ahmad Zahid mentioned that it provided a summary of the achievements of the 62 key KKDW programmes in 2024, in addition to setting game changers for 2025.
He expressed confidence that the three-day retreat, which began on Friday, had generated valuable ideas to transform and strengthen the KKDW ecosystem.
Ahmad Zahid said that he would present the summary from the retreat at the Cabinet retreat, scheduled for Feb 15 and 16.
“I am truly pleased, as not only are all department heads fully committed to implementing these ideas, but the retreat also involved representatives from regional development boards, along with officers and directors of KKDW at the state level,” he said.
A total of 140 participants took part in the retreat, including top management and senior officers of the ministry, as well as departments and agencies under KKDW. The retreat also included agencies under the portfolio and supervision of the Deputy Prime Minister, such as the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), Civil Defence Force (APM), National TVET Council (MTVET), and the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA).
The KKDW 2025 retreat identified four main focuses: human capital, entrepreneurs, the economy, and bureaucratic reform, with 42 programmes outlined as potential game changers.
Yesterday, Ahmad Zahid proposed that KKDW carry out a third-party evaluation to assess the effectiveness of each initiative, ensuring that every action taken truly meets the needs and expectations of the people.
Additionally, he outlined five key targets for KKDW this year, including continued support for rural entrepreneurs, boosting their potential to enter the global market, and setting a target for at least 500 Orang Asli children to attend university - compared with 446 who successfully enrolled in higher education institutions in 2024.
-- BERNAMA
