Parliament: RM86.3 mln disbursed for MADANI adopted village programme so far

Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said this covers 35 out of the targeted 42 villages under the programme, introduced in Budget 2024, where each village is allocated up to RM2.5 million.

"The programme's objective is to find the best methods to facilitate and accelerate the implementation of small projects in villages, bridge the gap in basic amenities between rural and urban areas, provide comprehensive basic amenities for underprivileged rural areas and identify the best solutions for existing problems.

"The primary criteria for selecting a village are those with less than 50 per cent coverage of amenities or those with inadequate and incomplete basic amenities that require special attention," he said during the question and answer session.

He was responding to a question from Datuk Seri Sh Mohmed Puzi Sh Ali (BN-Pekan) on the main objectives of the MADANI Adopted Village programme and the main selection criteria.

Elaborating, Amir Hamzah said that villages selected as MADANI Adopted Villages would serve as benchmarks to help the government narrow the gap between rural and urban areas.

"This includes empowering the village head or committee and local community through a gotong-royong approach and streamlining procurement and financial procedures to assist in completing infrastructure projects in the selected villages," he said.

He added that the programme focuses on physical projects such as improving village roads, street lights, water and electricity supply and internet access, as well as non-physical projects like registration with the Social Welfare Department, e-Kasih, Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah, Sumbangan Asas Rahmah, and mobile government services.

He said that every secretary-general, head of service and director-general entrusted with the adopted village must ensure the completion of basic amenities upgrades within this year.