84 Mesej projects in Sabah: Radin
Published on: Saturday, November 28, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: The maximum impact of long-term poverty eradication programmes in the State can be felt when they are up and running at their optimum.Rural Development Minister Datuk Radin Malleh said among the programmes aimed to eradicate poverty, especially hard-core poverty in Sabah are Mesej (Mini Estate Sejahtera), Local Economy Improvement Programme (PPES), Housing Assistance Programme (PBR) and Agropolitan Projects.Mesej is a holistic poverty eradication project where the focus groups are not only provided with houses but also a stable income increment, Radin said.
ADVERTISEMENT
To date, 32 rubber and oil palm Mesej projects were implemented in Sabah and in total, there are 52 Agriculture, Aquaculture, Micro and Integrated Mesej projects which are completed and still in implementation throughout the State."Once completed, these Mesej projects will house 2,500 hardcore poor households."In 2016, the government will also allocate RM14.58 million to continue the implementation of Mesej projects and other poverty eradication programmes in Sabah."This is to ensure hardcore poor groups can live comfortably and productively to achieve far better living standards," Radin said while winding up for the Ministry at the Assembly.
ADVERTISEMENT
Radin also said the People's Welfare Development and Poverty Eradication Scheme Steering Committee chaired by the Chief Minister conducts a meeting once in four months to monitor all main programmes in the State.Aside from that, the Ministry has also conducted the Prosperous Village Programme (PKS) with focuses on backward villages with a more holistic approach.
ADVERTISEMENT
"To date, 240 villages are involved in the programme, while in 2016, 20 more villages are planned to be included in the programme with an allocation of RM2.2 million."The aim for PKS is to transform the villages in three aspects, namely human capital development, economy development and living quality improvement."Radin said, one of the approaches in improving the income of focus groups in rural areas is through entrepreneurship activities.Among the programmes implemented under the Ministry are village entrepreneurship development, promotion and marketing as well as entrepreneurship training."These programmes with the cooperation of district offices are planned and implemented holistically so that selected entrepreneurs are provided with a space equipped with machines and tools, supplied with raw materials at the initial stage of the operations, and continuous involvement in promotional and marketing activities."Under the Federal Government's Housing Assistance Programme (PBR), Radin said his Ministry is the main coordinator to build new houses which are implemented by district and sub-district offices and municipal councils and 1,000 new houses are expected to be completed by the end of this year.Radin said, the number of houses built under the PBR in each State constituency depends on the approval from Federal Government.Priority is assessed by the district poverty eradication focus groups comprising the people's representative at the respective areas."These focus groups are chaired by the district officers and responsible to monitor the implementation and progress of poverty eradication programmes implemented by the State and Federal Government agencies."He said, the Nala Mesej project will be continued with fish farming project by the Fisheries Department and prawn farming project by Ko-Nelayan as the guiding agency in both projects.The clearance works of Kg Abai Mesej for phase one development project was started on Feb 13, 2014 and completed at the end of 2014.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
