Latest news with #RuralandRegionalDevelopmentMinistry
The Sun
01-08-2025
- Business
- The Sun
i-Mesra platform supports halal certification, says deputy minister
KUALA LUMPUR: The i-Mesra digital platform, designed as a pre-halal reference for entrepreneurs under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKDW), does not conflict with the Malaysian Halal Certification issued by JAKIM, said Deputy Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang. She explained that the platform serves as a facilitator, integrating JAKIM's guidelines to align with federal halal certification procedures. 'The i-Mesra system incorporates JAKIM's requirements, ensuring most KKDW products meet halal certification standards,' she told reporters after launching i-Mesra at the 2025 Mega 3D Carnival (MK3D 2025). When asked about Selangor's rejection of i-Mesra, Rubiah stated that KKDW respects the decision but remains open to discussions. 'Selangor's preference for an alternative system is not an issue. Our priority is providing entrepreneurs with a tool to speed up halal certification,' she added. KKDW adopted i-Mesra after its introduction by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, finding it user-friendly for entrepreneurs. Last week, reports indicated Selangor refused i-Mesra as a halal verification platform, citing better alternatives. Earlier, Rubiah witnessed a cooperation agreement between Ketengah and Koperasi Peserta-Peserta Felcra Malaysia Berhad. She also received a Malaysia Book of Records certificate for MK3D 2025 as the Largest Entrepreneurship Fair. MK3D 2025 combines three major entrepreneurship programmes, featuring over 1,000 entrepreneurs and 882 booths nationwide. - Bernama
New Straits Times
25-07-2025
- General
- New Straits Times
Family forced to live in derelict swiftlet building, aid on the way
KUALA NERUS: A family of eight forced to live in a crumbling former swiftlet birdhouse in Kampung Batin has drawn urgent attention from the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKDW). KKDW Terengganu director, Md. Razi Md. Lazim said he was shocked and moved by the family's living conditions, describing the structure as "extremely run-down and not suitable for habitation" after visiting them. The family includes Mohd. Nazarudin Muhamat, 50, his wife, Nur Nadiatul Asyikin Muhammad Nasir, 36 and 6 children aged 3 to 12. "I immediately went to the location after being informed of this matter by the former state assemblyman of Seberang Takir, Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abd. Rahman. "This swiftlet birdhouse building is extremely run-down and not suitable for habitation," he was quoted as saying by Kosmo after offering support to the family yesterday. Md Razi said the premise is owned by Nur Nadiatul Asyikin's mother and became the family's residence after they were unable to settle their rent arrears. The 'residence' will be temporarily renovated with the addition of a living room, kitchen, and toilet to improve the comfort of Mohd Nazarudin's family, he said. Meanwhile, Nur Nadiatul Asyikin said they had previously been living in Kuala Lumpur but returned to their hometown about five years ago during the Covid-19 pandemic due to financial hardship. They rented a house in the beginning, but were forced to move out after more than a year because they failed to pay a monthly rental of RM550. "My mother allowed us to stay in this building temporarily. If we need to use the toilet, we will go to the nearby petrol station," she said. Md. Razi works as a mechanic, while her wife sells ice-cream with an average income of RM1,000 a month. Their eldest child, who is 12 years old, has been diagnosed as a person with disabilities under the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) category. It is understood that the couple has only recently applied for assistance from the Social Welfare Department and the Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council.
New Straits Times
24-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
PAC to summon 3 ministries, Felcra over AG's findings
KUALA LUMPUR: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will summon three ministries and a government agency over matters flagged in the Auditor General's Report 2/2025 on the activities of ministries, departments, statutory bodies and federal government-owned companies. PAC chairman Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsuddin said the committee will call the Rural and Regional Development Ministry and Felcra Bhd to provide an explanation regarding the management of palm oil plantation procurement. "The committee will also summon the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry to provide an explanation regarding the management of price control and cooking oil subsidies, as well as the Finance Ministry to brief on the governance of the tender procurement committee. "The date of the proceedings and briefings for all three related matters will be determined later," she said in a statement. She said the PAC proceedings on the issues highlighted in the report will focus on topics identified as involving the 3Ps: misappropriation, abuse of power, and waste, as well as 1K, which is leakages. Earlier today, Mas Ermieyati said the committee received a briefing from the AG regarding the reports, which were tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday and debated on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Mas Ermieyati said the PAC will table two follow-up action reports by two ministries on July 28 and July 29. "First, on the Home Ministry's follow-up actions on the recommendations of the PAC report regarding the procurement of the Foreign Workers Centralised Management System. "Second, on the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department, and the Sabah State Water Department's follow-up actions on the recommendations of the PAC report regarding the management of rural water supply projects in Sarawak and Sabah."
Malaysiakini
21-07-2025
- Business
- Malaysiakini
Auditor report tells ministries to discontinue selected procurement method
The implementation of the Selected Pre-Qualified Open Tender Procurement at the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry, the Works Ministry and the Rural and Regional Development Ministry has not achieved the objective of expediting the procurement process. According to the Auditor General's Report (AG Report) 2/2025 tabled in the Dewan Rakyat today for the Works Ministry, the implementing agency audited was the Sabah Public Works Department.
The Star
21-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
A-G calls for overhaul of govt's Pre-Qualification procurement process
PETALING JAYA: The Auditor-General has flagged concerns over the government's selective Pre-Qualification (Pre-Q) procurement method, citing instances where companies that did not meet criteria advanced in the tender process. The Auditor-General has recommended scrapping the Pre-Q method in favour of reverting to the open tender system. The audit findings involved projects from three ministries: Energy Transition and Water Transformation (Petra), Works, and Rural and Regional Development. According to the Auditor-General's report Series 2/2025, the Pre-Q mechanism was introduced by the Finance Ministry for project tenders in 2023 and 2024. Under the Pre-Q process, companies that pass the initial screening are invited to participate in the open tender process at the second stage. This method aims to ensure participating companies are competitive and capable. "Based on audit findings, there is potential for manipulation and a lack of transparency in the selection process. Some companies that did not meet evaluation criteria in the first stage were still selected and evaluated in the second stage. "Additionally, the procurement process exceeded the stipulated duration," the report stated. In Petra, 154 companies were invited to bid for 25 projects, with six companies passing the first stage without submitting required documents. Three were awarded Letters of Acceptance (LOA) for flood mitigation projects worth over RM811mil in Penang, Pahang, and Selangor. For the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, no project list was provided during the first stage. Of the 721 companies that participated, 485 (67.3%) were approved by the KKDW Procurement Board between Aug 7 and Oct 2, 2023. The audit found that seven companies lacking financial capacity were invited to participate in the second round up to four times, with one company awarded a RM40.1 million road upgrade project in Tumpat, Kelantan. The Works Ministry and Sabah Public Works Department (JKR) fully complied with the Finance Ministry's directive, with 113 companies meeting criteria passing the first stage. However, Petra and the Rural and Regional Development ministries did not comply with evaluation criteria, leading to ineligible companies being awarded LOAs. Petra acknowledged that the list for Pre-Qualification was obtained through the Construction Industry Development Board's (CIDB) system. The Works Ministry noted an outdated database for the Pan Borneo Highway Sabah Phase 1B Project procurement, and plans to use the CIDB database for future projects to ensure data accuracy. The Rural and Regional Development Ministry admitted the absence of a complete contractor register approved by the Finance Ministry. The Finance Ministry committed to improving the tender process with guidelines for ministries, using the Electronic Government Procurement Application (eGPA) to enhance efficiency and decision-making. The Auditor-General recommended strategic preliminary screening, specific project types, clear Pre-Qualification criteria, maximum timeframes, and an integrated company database to improve transparency and efficiency.
