Cherok tokun: The 'Kampung Angkat (Adopt-a-Village) MADANI' programme, introduced under the 2024 Budget, is seen as an effective initiative to ensure that leaders fully understand the realities of the people's lives and assist in addressing grassroots issues. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said under the programme, all government leaders, including ministers, deputy ministers, and department heads, are required to adopt a village each to look into issues related to poverty, education, and local facilities.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim emphasized that by visiting the villages themselves, leaders would gain a better understanding of the real problems faced by communities, from school children and the poor to the quality of education. He noted that such firsthand experiences are essential for implementing effective improvement efforts.
To further support community empowerment, Anwar highlighted the introduction of the MADANI Sejati Initiative, which allows villagers to manage funds allocated directly to them, bypassing ministry bureaucracies. This initiative empowers villagers to decide on projects they wish to undertake, be it in livestock, agriculture, or small businesses.
Anwar elaborated that management would be conducted by the villagers themselves, with a requirement to maintain transparent accounts and expenditure records. This approach, he stated, embodies the 'caring for the people' spirit under the MADANI Government concept, emphasizing not only engagement with the rakyat but also giving them the autonomy to choose and manage their own futures.
The 'Komuniversiti Kolaboratif' programme, organised by Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah (USAS) Kuala Kangsar, in collaboration with the Malaysian Islamic Economic Development Foundation (YAPEIM), provides opportunities for over 100 university students to contribute to the Cherok Tokun community. Activities conducted during the three-day programme, which runs until tomorrow, include 'gotong-royong', Forum Perdana, Fun Run, Rahmah sale, and health screenings.