BETONG: The Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKDW) is committed to fully completing all projects under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) in Sarawak before the start of the next five-year national development plan.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, its minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, stated that the completion of these projects will precede the federal government’s identification of new projects for the 13MP. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing roads connecting towns to the Pan Borneo Highway, aiming to foster expansion into rural areas. This statement was made during a gathering with locals at the Enteri Lengkoi longhouse in Samu Ulu Paku, Spaoh.
Dr Zahid highlighted the need to address certain ‘missing links’ by constructing roads to connect rural areas, thereby significantly benefiting local communities. He reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to promoting balanced and continuous development across all regions in Malaysia.
He further st
ressed that the success of these developmental efforts hinges on cooperation between the federal and state governments. Dr Zahid noted that this collaboration extends beyond official engagements to include personal networking, which he believes is crucial for achieving regional development and balanced progress.