Rural development remains the main agenda, says Mahdzir Khalid

PETALING JAYA: Empowerment of rural communities will be our main agendas, says newly-minted Rural Development Minister (KPLB) Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.

He also said his appointment as minister was a huge responsibility to ensure the smoothness of the administration, as well as the development of the people in the rural areas.

Mahdzir, who previously held the Education Minister portfolio and other cabinet positions, said that he would use his political experience to champion rural development in a statement on Monday (Aug 30).

He also called on the public to pray that Malaysia would recover and rebound from the health and economic crisis that the country is facing.

He expressed his gratitude to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Prime Minister and Umno’s leadership for giving him the trust to lead KPLB.

Mahdzir was one of the cabinet ministers who took oaths of office, loyalty and secrecy before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Negara today.

In a separate statement from the ministry, Mahdzir arrived at the ministry building in Putrajaya at 5.45pm on Monday to mark his first day of duty.

"KPLB would like to congratulate Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid on his appointment as the minister, as well as to Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad as Deputy Minister 1 and Datuk Haji Hasbi Habibollah as Deputy Minister 2.

"The ministry will continue its commitment and will always give its cooperation and support to the minister and deputy ministers in executing the rural development initiatives," the ministry said.

It also said that the new appointment of the minister and deputy ministers would be a catalyst of rural development amid the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as to ensure the success of the National Recovery Plan (NRP).