ALOR STAR – A total of 4,326 people in rural areas affected by Covid-19 have received aid amounting to more than RM6 million from the Kedah Regional Development Authority (KEDA) since March this year.
KEDA chairman Datuk Dr Ku Abdul Rahman Ku Ismail said these residents have received assistance such as rental exemption for small- and medium-industry premises, food donations, agricultural aid such as fertilisers and pesticides, as well as grants to purchase agriculture equipment.
KEDA has also provided bus services to bring students home from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris in Tanjung Malim, Perak, as well as those who have completed their mandatory quarantine at Dorsett Hotel, Putrajaya, he told reporters recently.
Ku Rahman said that many types of aid have been granted through various initiatives and programmes conducted by KEDA to raise income for farmers, empower the rural economy, and develop entrepreneurs.
The authority has extended assistance to tenants of the houses and premises it manages by providing a moratorium on rent, he added.
On KEDA’s programmes for next year, Ku Rahman said the authority plans to empower technical and vocational education and training at the KEDA College in Sik to ensure it is in line with current needs.
He said the move will help the youth to obtain technical training so they may open their own businesses upon completing training, or secure employment with decent salaries.
Meanwhile, KEDA general manager Kamarudin Abdul Akib said the regional authority targets to rehabilitate about 100ha of idle land in the state next year to allow farmers to work the land and generate income.
Kamarudin said KEDA has rehabilitated about 10% of 4,000ha of idle land in the state through its redevelopment programmes. – Bernama, December 29, 2020
