DEWAN RAKYAT NEWS-IN-BRIEF: FEB 4

RURAL SARAWAK YOUTHS EMPOWERED, MARKETABILITY REACHES 95 PCT

KUALA LUMPUR -- The government is strengthening its rural youth empowerment agenda in Sarawak through skills and entrepreneurship training and technical education, with a marketability rate of 95 per cent for the past two years.

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Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Rubiah Wang said the ministry (KKDW) places strong emphasis on rural youth development, in line with the aspirations of rural development policies, including providing training, business guidance, financing schemes and market access through agencies under KKDW.

"For example, the implementation of programmes like Start Right 2.0, to assist the target groups through early exposure to becoming entrepreneurs, provides opportunities to skilled rural youths to venture into the world of entrepreneurship,” she said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.

She was responding to a question from Ahmad Johnie Zawawi (GPS-Igan) about the government's measures to empower rural youths in Sarawak, including in the Igan parliamentary constituency, through skills, entrepreneurship and modern farming training programmes to enhance their employment opportunities and income.

-- BERNAMA

MODERN HOUSING CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY TO BE EXPANDED

KUALA LUMPUR -- The government will continue to expand the use of modern construction technologies in the implementation of housing projects to enhance productivity, quality and cost efficiency of projects under the supervision of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT).

Its deputy minister, Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu, said among the technologies that will continue to be enhanced are the Building Information Modelling and the Industrialised Building System (IBS), in tandem with government efforts to strengthen planning, project management, monitoring and quality control efficiency in the housing sector.

"In line with technological progress, the government, through various agencies, will continue to explore the use of new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), in construction methods, such as prefabricated constructions.

"… as part of our efforts to increase the efficiency of project implementation, ensuring compliance with the implementation period and maintaining the standard of construction quality, especially the construction of affordable homes,” she said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today. 

She said this in reply to a question from Syerleena Abdul Rashid (PH-Bukit Bendera), who asked if the government planned to introduce or use AI-based technology in the planning, management and monitoring of all housing projects under the KPKT's supervision for more efficient implementation.

-- BERNAMA