IPOH: The Rural and Regional Development Ministry will fully adopt and use the e-Penghulu System, a digital platform for monitoring, collecting data and implementing programmes nationwide, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said the system, currently implemented only in Perak, will be used by the ministry to improve monitoring of allocations and programme delivery.
“I have also asked rural development exco members from all states to use this system to monitor the implementation of allocations, not only from the ministry but also from other ministries,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid was speaking to reporters after attending the 60th Coordination Meeting between the Rural and Regional Development Minister and state rural development executive council members here on Tuesday (Dec 16).
Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, said he hoped that the decisions made at the meeting would be fully implemented and said the ministry would continue to closely monitor their execution.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said that executive council members from every state have been informed to emphasise the achievement of allocations channelled by the state governments through his ministry.
"We also want to ensure cost-effectiveness and tangible impact from the spending.
“So far, our level of achievement stands at around 95%," he said.
"We have introduced 42 major game-changer initiatives, with achievements also exceeding 95%.
"This shows that commitment is not only required at the ministry level, but also from state government executive council members,” he added.
On budget allocations, he said his ministry’s allocations for the coming year stood at RM12.4bil and were distributed to states based on factors such as state size, population and specific needs, including the proportion of rural, semi-urban and urban areas.
“We have criteria and the allocations have been handed over to the states for detailed planning and implementation based on the budgets provided,” he said.
