Ministry programme to assist rural devt, residents in Kinabatangan

KINABATANGAN: More than 2,000 rural residents took the opportunity to visit the ‘Sentuhan Kasih Desa’ and Madani Village Entrepreneurship programmes organised by the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) at Dataran Tamu Sukau here Thursday.

The two-day programme which started on Thursday is an effort to empower rural entrepreneurs and their products and services under KKDW was officiated by Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who is the Deputy Prime Minister and KKDW Minister.

Ahmad Zahid when met by reporters after officiating the event said the programme is a continuation of the programme at the national level, and KKDW chose Sukau in Kinabatangan as one of the areas that needs to be given development focus besides helping rural residents.

“Agencies under KKDW, among others, help provide courses and entrepreneurship training, such as KEMAS which organises training and financing programme for entrepreneurs

“Today is an exhibition on the products produced by rural entrepreneurs as an encouragement to market their products,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid said his ministry also cooperated with other ministries including the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to provide training related to country homestays to entrepreneurs, besides providing funding to upgrade or repair homestays.

At the programme, a total of 38 stalls and exhibitions were opened apart from four mobile counters including the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Living Costs (KPDN) for Rahmah Sales.

Meanwhile, the owner of Mama Faiz Bakery in Kinabatangan, Suhaila Mohd Jukin, 48, said the KKDW Desa Sentuhan Kasih Programme and Madani Villege Entrepreneurship is a medium for entrepreneurs in this district to ‘expose’ their products to outsiders.