PUTRAJAYA: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi expressed hope that Malaysia's rural development agenda can serve as a model for the Asean region.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, said his ministry would continue to elevate the rural development agenda to the regional stage when it hosts the Asean Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on the Asean Master Plan on Rural Development again this October.
In addition, Malaysia would host the Asean+3 Forum on Empowering Rural Women and Digitalisation.
"Let us use this platform to showcase our best practices and position Malaysia's rural development agenda as both a regional aspiration and reference point. Malaysia must set the example for the entire region," he said at the Rural and Regional Development Ministry's monthly assembly here on Tuesday (July 1).
Ahmad Zahid said his ministry has been given the mandate to plan rural community development, with an allocation of nearly RM12bil, of which RM3.37bil has been spent to date.
He said the recently launched Desa Kirana initiative was being hailed as a game changer in the lead-up to Visit Malaysia 2026.
According to him, the initiative aims to boost rural tourism and strengthen the local economy by empowering cultural heritage, natural attractions, traditional cuisine, handicrafts and a variety of rural-based activities.
"I hope to one day see our rural gems - from Arau to Kudat, from Sabah's interior to the coast of Sarawak - emerge as world-class tourist destinations. Just like Lauterbrunnen in Switzerland, Hobbiton in New Zealand, Shirakawa-go in Japan, or Ubud in Bali - places that were once quiet but now stand proudly on the global tourism map," he said.
Ahmad Zahid also said that his ministry would organise a three-dimensional Mega Carnival, which will bring together three major events simultaneously: the Rural Entrepreneur Carnival, Felda Settlers' Day, and the One District One Industry initiative.
"This marks another major shift - a strategic effort to elevate rural entrepreneurs and strengthen the rural entrepreneurship ecosystem at both the national and international levels," he said.
Meanwhile, he also called on the ministry's secretary-general, Datuk Muhd Khair Razman Mohamed Annuar, to review the existing training system.
During the assembly, Ahmad Zahid expressed his appreciation for the dedication and hard work of the ministry’s staff throughout his 940-day leadership of the ministry. – Bernama
