Two ministries will continue to collaborate to benefit people
KOTA KINABALU: Crossministerial and party cooperation is one of the best platforms to convey information related to the functions, policies, roles, initiatives and programs of ministries to the grassroots level.
Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said this at a Collaborative Engagement Session which involved his ministry and the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry.
He represented his ministry and the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry was represented by its Deputy Minister Datuk Arthur Kurup.
Speaking at the engagement program on Tuesday night, Ewon said the collaboration between his ministry and the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry will continue to benefit the people.
“The collaboration involving the leaders of UPKO and PBRS is a message to the people that cross-party and cross-ministerial collaboration to provide the best services to them can be implemented.
“Ministry and party leaders can work together using the strengths of their respective ministries for the people of Sabah who have long spoken about the need for entrepreneurial development and other developments,” he said.
Ewon said he spoke to Arthur about the collaboration between their ministries after the Madani Unity government was formed and the cooperation continued till today.
According to Ewon, the collaboration provides a broader space for the rakyat to enjoy what both ministries have to offer and he expressed confidence that the collaboration, involving the top leaders of both parties, could serve as a means of delivering ministry information to the grassroots in their respective areas.
“Some say collaboration should continue, but I expect more than that, and as the President of UPKO, this collaboration needs to be translated clearly so that the people can truly feel it,” Ewon said.
Meanwhile, Arthur expressed his confidence that the collaboration between the two ministries can be continued.
He opined that it is a starting point for more joint efforts to bring benefits back to the people of Sabah.
“We are discussing how to use the existing platform to assist the people of Sabah, especially those we represent. This collaboration started last year when Datuk Ewon visited Pensiangan and helped entrepreneurs in that area. I responded to that visit by conducting a visit to the Penampang Parliament constituency to assist some modern farmers under my capacity at the time in the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation,” Arthur explained.
He sees this collaboration as highly suitable between his ministry and the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry, where the focus is on rural areas in agriculture and entrepreneurship, ultimately assisting them in expanding markets through the support of both ministries.