KKDW TO BOOST HUMAN CAPITAL, RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP - AHMAD ZAHID

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 4 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) will step up development efforts next year by focusing on two main areas -- human capital development and strengthening rural entrepreneurship, particularly through techno-entrepreneur initiatives.

Deputy Prime Minister and Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the focus is not only on improving the quality of rural products but also on ensuring these products can penetrate international markets.

“Through MIHAS@Shanghai, we recorded a new milestone of over RM3.2 billion in transactions, proving that Malaysian rural products have penetrated international markets,” he told reporters after KKDW’s monthly assembly here today.

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In terms of human capital development, Ahmad Zahid said nearly 300 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions under the Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) now achieve a graduate employability rate of 98.7 per cent, and the ministry aims to raise it to 99 per cent next year.

He also highlighted that the number of Orang Asli students pursuing university education has increased significantly this year, and efforts will continue next year through careful planning to be presented at the KKDW retreat scheduled for March.

“Since we hold retreats twice a year, our performance is based on careful planning, and I 'micromanage' the projects we have set. For instance, in terms of game changers, we implemented 42 this year, and 95 per cent of them have achieved their intended outcomes.

“Next year, we will determine how many game changers we will roll out to the community, and, Insya-Allah, I will work together with senior management and supporting officers to ensure KKDW’s success,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid said that next year will mark a new phase for KKDW in strengthening a work culture that is more value-driven, responsive, and high-impact, in line with the ministry’s social and corporate responsibilities to rural communities.

He added that KKDW staff must understand the two main tasks that underpin the organisation, including social responsibility to ensure that the public truly benefits from government work.

The other is corporate responsibility to ensure that agencies such as MARA, the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (RISDA), the Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (FELCRA), the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA), and the Regional Development Authorities (LKW) operate transparently and achieve their respective strategic targets.

“Focus must be coordinated, profitable, aligned with the agency’s mandate, transparent in operations, and able to meet strategic objectives,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid emphasised that to meet challenges, KKDW must adopt three new work cultures as the backbone of service delivery: rapid response to prevent problems from becoming crises, operating as one system, team and purpose, and delivering excellence so that results are felt by the people.

“At our (KKDW) retreat early next year, and with the KKDW Strategic Plan 2026-2030 that I will launch, I want everything I emphasised today to be fully translated into action,” he said.

-- BERNAMA