Ismail Sabri launches transformation agenda to 'develop rural areas'

The transformation agenda, to 'Develop the Rural Areas' launched by the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (MRRD) today hinges on the needs of the people while ensuring that the rural development process was on track.

Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the implementation of the transformation may be drawn up for a period of five years starting next year with focus on six key areas, namely, infrastructure, youth development, economics, entrepreneurship, human capital and the delivery system.

"The provision of basic infrastructure in rural areas will be intensified, especially in areas that still lack coverage, especially in Sabah and Sarawak as well as in the rural areas of the peninsula, including the Orang Asli area," he said in his speech in conjunction with the special monthly assembly to mark 100 days of being Minister and the launch of the Rural Transformation here today.

He said, in encouraging young people to stay and build a future in rural areas, the ministry was committed to give priority to the provision of facilities and services to rural youth.

"MRRD will also lead the Second Generation Rural Housing Project through the construction of 'Rumah Bina Negara' with a target of 4,000 units which will be built by 2020, thereby increasing Bumiputera asset ownership," he said.

"The construction of affordable houses costing around RM50,000 per unit will involve the cooperation of the state government to acquire land cheaply and help from the Ministry of Finance to raise funds for the construction of the basic infrastructure of the area," he said.

Ismail Sabri said the ministry would establish Techno-Hub to promote rural Bumiputera entrepreneurs to engage in profitable businesses in nearby towns.

In the meantime, he said, a new model for rural folks to earn high income had been created which would increase the income of rural households by at least RM4,000 per month by 2020.

"This model aims to diversify income of rural folks so they don't have to be dependent on one source of income but can explore other sources of income such as farm dividends, cooperative dividends, additional economic activities and entrepreneurship and also set up online business portals to expand online businesses in rural areas," he said.

"On the development of human capital, among others, we have plans to improve the learning syllabus in Kemas kindergarten and set up a MARA University which will open at the beginning of next year in Kuala Lumpur with the first intake of 200 people in the field of management science," he added.