Zahid: New high-level committee to bridge Malaysia's rural–urban gap

New Straits Times

2 days ago

KUALA LUMPUR: Twelve ministries have been appointed as permanent members of the newly established High-Level Committee (HLC) for Rural Development, which will convene at least twice a year to coordinate policies and initiatives aimed at accelerating rural transformation.
Chaired by Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the HLC serves as the nation's highest strategic platform for aligning rural development efforts across the country.
Zahid said the committee would tackle overlapping ministerial functions, limited resources, and siloed policy implementation that had hampered programme effectiveness.
"Rural development faces increasingly complex challenges. The development gap between urban and rural areas must be addressed urgently so that the 8.1 million rural residents are not left behind in the nation's progress," he said in a statement.
Citing a UNDP report, he said that no Asean country would likely achieve its Sustainable Development Goals for rural development by 2030 without coordinated action in infrastructure, workforce and human capital development, and poverty eradication.
The HLC will be supported by a working committee focused on six priority areas: education, entrepreneurship, rural economy, technology and digitalisation, rural tourism, and rural infrastructure.
Key issues discussed at the inaugural meeting in Parliament today included improving access to rural schools, boosting village tourism, enhancing care for senior citizens and special needs groups, and upgrading rural health facilities.
Zahid also announced four cross-ministry initiatives already under way: the UP_TVET centralised application system for Technical and Vocational Education and Training courses, the Village Homestay programme for Visit Malaysia Year 2026, the Mega 3D Carnival (KM3D) entrepreneurship platform, and the Single Application System for SBP-MRSM enrolment from 2026.
He said the committee's work aligned with the 13th Malaysia Plan, which promotes integrated governance to minimise duplication, optimise resources, and deliver faster outcomes.
"Through the HLC, the government aims to reduce youth migration to cities by creating more rural opportunities, developing rural techno-entrepreneurs, strengthening regional development authorities through new business models, and building a competitive rural tourism sector.
"Rural development is not just about building physical infrastructure — it is about building the future and unlocking the potential of our people. With a whole-of-government approach, I am confident the HLC will create a prosperous, sustainable rural ecosystem that drives national progress," he added.