The Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKDW) has allocated RM1.5 million to help the state government organise the Rural Entrepreneur Carnival (KUD) @ D’Bendang Festival in Melaka next year.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the carnival will be held annually to boost tourism activities in rural areas and this initiative will also assist Melaka in its preparations for next year’s World Tourism Day celebration and the Visit Malaysia Year in 2026

‘This is not just about promoting domestic tourism or attracting tourists within the state. With Visit Malaysia Year coming up in 2026, next year’s festival will be a key event to promote in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (Motac),” Ahmad Zahid said.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said this at the closing of KUD@ D’Bendang Festival 2024 at Benteng Negara Camp, Sungai Rambai, here today.

Also present were Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh and State
Tourism, Heritage, Arts and Culture Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Razak Abdul Rahman.

Ahmad Zahid, in his speech, said KKDW has successfully trained, supervised, financed and monitored over 500,000 rural entrepreneurs across various sectors.

He pointed out that the government, through the Malaysian Halal Council, has gone beyond promoting entrepreneurs’ products by creating a supportive ecosystem that fosters growth in the halal industry.

“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is deeply committed to ensuring the economic well-being of the nation, from the national level down to the state, parliamentary and even village levels,” Ahmad Zahid added.

He further announced that the government has allocated RM1 billion for the MADANI Community Fund initiative, which aims to empower rural communities by helping them launch their own economic projects.

“This progress is only possible through the close collaboration between state and federal governments, working together under a unified administrative framework
,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency