Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor. - Photo: Bernama
JITRA: The Federal government will continue to pay attention to development in Kedah besides making efforts to meet the deficiencies in the state for the benefit of the people as a whole, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said the efforts were carried out by the Kedah Regional Development Authority (KEDA) under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, which is responsible for implementing all projects related to the ministry’s portfolio.
"I take the approach of monitoring the performance not only on the percentage of expenditure that has been spent (but) I (also) study in terms of the effectiveness of the cost of a project... the people must feel it,” he told a media conference at the Santunan Kasih Ramadan event organised by the ministry here, Wednesday (April 5).
Also present was Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.
Ahmad Zahid said the ministry’s priority is not just its traditional efforts such as providing electricity and water supplies in the interior and rural infrastructure but also giving attention to human capital development such as TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training).
"We carry out upskilling (and) reskilling to give employment opportunities to targeted children’s groups. We also join the state government in building houses on land either with the cooperation of the government or land bought by Felda itself,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said the compatibility of the relationship between the Kedah and Federal governments must be established and, if there is a gap, efforts to bridge that gap should be done for the benefit of the people.
He said government policies and networks must be reflected from the aspect of collaboration and not just mere rhetorics through political speeches.
"Not just make political speeches but a form of cooperation, that is what I’m implementing and, of course, it’s the policy of the Federal government, as long as the state government (makes) an arrangement with the Federal government, we respect it very much. It means this goes beyond political stances, we put aside political differences,” he said.
Earlier, in his speech, Ahmad Zahid also announced the appointment of Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim as the new KEDA chairman.
About 1,500 guests comprising orphans, students of tahfiz centres, asnaf groups and local communities, were given a treat at the event held at Masjid Al-A’la here. - Bernama
