Gov’t increases allocation for rural modernisation

PUTRAJAYA: The allocation for modernising rural areas will be increased by 44 per cent to make it RM2.78 billion to provide for various modern infrastructure of quality.

Rural and Regional Development Minister, Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib said of the amount, RM850 million would be used to build roads in rural areas and the rest for electricity and water supply and social amenities.

He said the focus on roads was very important in line with his ministry’s objective of wanting rural areas to be ‘production and supply houses’ to deliver food, agricultural produce, village industry products and services to hotels, restaurants and supermarkets.

“A systematic road network will enable connection to main highways and this will ease delivery of rural products to large towns.

“The Medan Infodesa computer facility which is being set up in villages will enable town dwellers to order goods or get services easily,” he told reporters after chairing his ministry’s agencies and rural executive councils meeting here yesterday.

Muhammad said his ministry will also chart several steps that will speed up the government’s efforts to provide a comfortable living for rural folk.

“The government also decided to increase the allocation for Medan Infodesa by 20 per cent to make it RM20 million for next year while the allocation for the Rural Leadership Training at Rural Development Institutes will be increased to RM16 million,” he said.

There will be an increase for Kemas which will be allocated RM162 million.

Meanwhile, Muhammad, who is also Umno information chief, said a meeting will be held on Dec 3 to discuss the preparations for the Kuala Terengganu by-election following the sudden death of its member of parliament Datuk Razali Ismail yesterday.