Putrajaya: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today launched the Rural and Regional Development Ministry's (KKDW) Strategic Plan 2026-2030, which sets the direction for rural development over the next five years.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, stated that the plan emphasizes five main clusters: the rural economy, human capital, infrastructure networks, rural entrepreneurship, and the service delivery system. The plan outlines 20 strategies and 49 initiatives aimed at driving integrated and sustainable rural development, with the objective of benefiting 8.17 million rural residents, which represents 24 percent of Malaysia's total population.

He mentioned that the plan aligns with Malaysia MADANI goals, the 13th Malaysia Plan, the Sustainable Development Goals, the Bumiputera Economic Transformation Plan 2035, and the Rural Development Policy. The strategic plan serves as a guiding document for implementing the ministry's programs and projects, focusing on delivery efficiency, accountability in using public resources, and creating a direct impact on rural communities.

Ahmad Zahid also highlighted that the KKDW's capacity to implement this strategic shift is bolstered by achievements recorded during the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP). These accomplishments mark a transition from the planning phase to the delivery phase. Among the achievements during the 12MP were a reduction in the rural poverty rate to 9.9 percent in 2024 compared to 12.9 percent in 2022, and a decline in rural-to-urban migration to 0.5 percent in 2024 compared to 2.4 percent in 2022.