BUKIT MERTAJAM: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced plans to propose a unique initiative during the upcoming cabinet meeting: Assigning one leader, himself included, to oversee the welfare of a village.
This proposal stemmed from insights gathered during a meeting with community leaders from Permatang Pauh earlier today.
He said the government had substantial allocations to help the poor amounting to tens of billions of ringgit.
However, he acknowledged discrepancies in the distribution of funds, including instances of leakage.
"I see that the government has various projects now, including eradicating hardcore poverty that can help the villagers.
"For a start, I, as the Prime Minister, choose to look after my hometown (Kampung Cherok Tokun) and other leaders can choose to look after any available villages.
"Currently, we have more than 2,000 high-ranking leaders. They will go to the villages without their ranks but as 'anak kampung' who are able to resolve issues faced in the respective village," he said in his speech during the Kenduri Rakyat Aidilfitri Perpaduan in Galeri Pejuang Cherok Tokun here today.
Present were Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and Human Resources Minister Steven Sim.
Anwar emphasised the importance of providing comprehensive support to rural communities.
He announced that each village would receive a minimum allocation of RM50,000 under the Madani Budget, with the flexibility to access up to RM100,000 for economic projects determined by the villagers themselves.
"In the Madani Budget, each village can receive a minimum allocation of RM50,000 and a maximum of RM100,000 to carry out whatever economic project is required.
"This (project) will be decided by the villagers themselves, who will definitely need officials to help them," he added.
Anwar said every leader needed to spend time and not just go through intermediaries in understanding the problems of the people.
"No matter how busy we (leaders) are, we must try.
"I will present this proposal and ask the Director General of the ICU (Implementation Coordination Unit) to provide an SOP (standard operating procedure) on what we can do," he said.
