Tawau: The 2025 MADANI Rakyat Programme (PMR) serves as a development catalyst and has the potential to boost the local economy, said Assistant Minister to the Sabah Chief Minister, Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan. The Apas state assemblyman emphasized the initiative's role in delivering government services to the people to help them raise their living standards.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, when large-scale programmes like this are brought to Tawau, there are upgrades in many aspects, particularly in street lighting, roads, and other infrastructure. It also creates business opportunities for local entrepreneurs in the district and surrounding areas to set up stalls to promote their products. Although PMR runs for only three days (May 9 to 11), the benefits to the people do not end when the programme concludes. Nizam expressed hope that all ministries and agencies involved will continue to serve and support those needing guidance.
He extended his gratitude to the Performance Acceleration and Coordination Unit (PACU), the Prime Minister's Office, and the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry (KUSKOP) for choosing Tawau to host the programme this year. Nizam noted that the programme was held in Kota Kinabalu last year, which many people from the east coast of Sabah could not attend due to the distance of about 450km. He urged Tawau residents to seize the opportunity to attend the event and get information on the services offered by federal and state agencies.
PMR significantly benefits urban and rural communities by providing the public direct access to government agency services. This programme serves as a platform for interaction between the people and the government while directly conveying the principles of the MADANI policies. PMR is a government initiative spearheaded by PACU in collaboration with KUSKOP, the lead ministry, and the Sabah Government, the host, to bring essential government services directly to the people.
Themed 'Ending Poverty Through Entrepreneurship', the Sabah edition of PMR 2025 underscores the government's sustainable approach to eradicating hardcore poverty by empowering local communities through entrepreneurship.