KUALA LUMPUR: Task forces are being set up to manage quick-win and game-changer programmes to make the rural economy the backbone of the country’s economy, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Rural and Regional Development Minister also said that the 22 quick-win programmes and 19 game-changer programmes under his ministry would be all about empowering rural people themselves to make the transformation.
He was speaking to the media after attending a Rural and Regional Development Ministry’s Strategic Development three-day workshop at a hotel here on Sunday (Feb 12).
“It will be a bottom-up approach rather than a top-down approach, with the ministry as the facilitator,” said Ahmad Zahid.
He added that the satisfaction of recipients on programmes conducted in rural areas has been measured.
“We will now focus on the impact of the programmes conducted in rural areas. The impact will not only be measured from the output but also from the outcomes of such programmes,” he said.
“We will focus on rural infrastructure, human capital, entrepreneurship and the rural economy,” added Ahmad Zahid, who said that task forces will be synchronised in these areas.
He said that the task forces for the 22 quick-win programs and 19 game-changers would be headed by the secretary-general and led by top ministry officials.
Ahmad Zahid said that the objective of narrowing the gap between the rural and the urban areas would cut down on rural migration to the cities due to the lack of job opportunities in rural areas.
“We must therefore create job opportunities. We want to use the local forces at the rural areas itself to develop the rural areas - and the ministry will play its role as the facilitator,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid then said he started the quick-win programs and 19 game-changer programmes when he first set foot in the ministry.
“After the first post-Cabinet meeting, I met the top officers of the ministry and realised that the only way is to turn any liabilities into assets. Any hiccups at the ministry, including financial problems, should not be a reason for us to cry over but a challenge for us to overcome them,” he said.
“We are calling upon the private and corporate sectors as well as NGOs to embark on our contribution to increasing food security,” added Ahmad Zahid.
He said that his ministry has TVET programs which focus on creating technical job opportunities and entrepreneurs among rural youths.
“These entrepreneurs are encouraged to use local sources - not only from raw materials but also looking at creating ingredients,” said Ahmad Zahid.
Ahmad Zahid further explained that the ministry was looking at rural youths who can be original equipment manufacturers (OEM), making systems or components that are used in another company's end product.
He also proposed that rural youths be involved in the aviation sector.
“The MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) in aviation may not be able to be placed in the rural areas, but vendors can still be in the rural areas.
These programmes require commitment. We also want ideas from the officers on the ground to be turned into policies,” said Ahmad Zahid.
