RM86.3mil disbursed for Madani village adoption programme so far, says Amir Hamzah

Photo: Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: Some RM86.3mil has been channelled to various ministries and agencies involved in the Madani village adoption programme as of July 10, says the Finance Ministry.

Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said the amount covers 35 of the villages identified for the programme nationwide, adding that RM100mil had been allocated for the 42 villages in total under the programme.

Amir Hamzah explained that the villages eligible for the programme are those drastically lacking basic facilities and needing special attention to ensure they are adequately equipped.

“The selected villages will be the benchmark in ensuring the government bridges the gap between rural and urban communities.

"This includes empowering village committees and local communities through facilitating a more convenient procurement process to complete infrastructure projects in their villages,” he said during Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (July 11).

Amir Hamzah stated that the Madani village adoption programme focuses on empowering both physical and non-physical aspects.

Physical projects include improving basic infrastructure like roads, streetlights, water supplies and building community halls.

Non-physical projects include mobile health screenings and bank services alongside counselling programmes for children and youth lagging in their studies.

The Madani village adoption programme was introduced in Budget 2024.

The Finance Minister II was responding to Datuk Seri Sh Mohmed Puzi Sh Ali (BN-Pekan) who asked about the purpose of implementing the Madani village adoption programme and the criteria for selecting villages.

In a supplementary question, Roslan Hashim (PN-Kulim Bandar Baharu) asked about the benefits of the programme in light of how the Rural and Regional Development Ministry was already carrying out similar programmes.

To this, Amir Hamzah said the Madani village adoption programme utilises a whole-of-government approach in uplifting the selected villages.

“A cross-ministerial approach is being taken, along with assistance from government-linked companies and government-linked investment companies, to further improve rural developments spearheaded by Rural and Regional Development Ministry,” he said.