THE Ministry of Finance (MOF) is optimistic that the RM100 million allocated for the development of 42 MADANI Adopted Villages across Malaysia will be fully utilised in 2024.
The funding, announced under Budget 2024, aims to improve basic infrastructure in rural areas, narrowing the development gap between villages and urban centers.
Finance Minister II, Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, emphasised that the allocation would focus on improving essential services such as water and electricity supply, street lighting, community amenities, and internet coverage.
“The MADANI Adopted Village programme, implemented by various government ministries and agencies, is already underway in these 42 villages. Some projects are still being carried out, and we anticipate that the full RM100 million will be spent,” Bernama reported him saying after visiting several sites in the Pulau Tuba MADANI Adopted Village in Langkawi yesterday.
The MADANI Adopted Village initiative is part of the government's broader effort to uplift rural areas and create equitable development opportunities.
Amir Hamzah highlighted that the programme will expand significantly in 2025, with a total allocation of RM200 million under Budget 2025. This expansion will include 200 villages, with each village set to receive RM1 million in funding.
In addition to the government's financial support, Government-Linked Companies (GLCs) are also contributing to the programme.
According to Amir Hamzah, GLCs are helping to enhance the development of basic facilities in selected villages, sometimes increasing the total funding available to these communities.
“When GLCs come on board, they add to the allocation, which means the village could receive even more support. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that residents actively participate in initiatives that stimulate the local economy,” he said.
At the handover ceremony for the Pulau Tuba MADANI Adopted Village, Amir Hamzah shared that the village had been allocated RM2.5 million to fund 13 community projects.
These projects include impactful initiatives such as the installation of solar-powered lights, the development of alternative water sources like tube wells, upgrades to public facilities like mosques and community halls, as well as entrepreneurship initiatives like MADANI kiosks and tourism-oriented projects.
“This is part of our commitment to ensuring that the MADANI Adopted Village programme fosters sustainable development and creates new opportunities for local economies,” Amir Hamzah added.
The MADANI Adopted Villages initiative, with its focus on enhancing infrastructure and community participation, is expected to be a key driver in bridging the rural-urban divide and fostering more inclusive growth across the country. – February 16, 2025
