AGROPOLITAN THE MEGA LIFT FOR THE HAVES-NOT...

Ten-year old Hazim Rahman was an excited boy.

His excitement was not so much because he skipped school today but the lad was grinning from ear to ear all morning in his best clothes since he and his family was upbeat on the prospect of meeting an Orang Besar later in the day.

The orang besar he was referring to was Mohd Shafie Apdal, Minister of Rural and Regional Development who was scheduled to make his first visit to Agropolitan Project in Gahai, better known as Agropolitan Gahai or simply Gahai located some 20 km away from Kuala Lipis in the interior of Pahang.

Shafie visited Gahai being the second such project implemented by the ministry since last year. The first was at Pulau Banggi, named Agropolitan Pulau Banggi located off Kudat, Sabah in 2008.

Hazim’s father was among the 80 hardcore head of families (ketua isi rumah or KIR) of Agropolitan Gahai relocated from their original kampongs into a more organized daily living by the Rubber Institute of SmallHolders Development Authority (RISDA) which is an agency under the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development.

The selected head of families moved into Gahai a year ago when the project opened its gates to participants with the primary objective of elevating hardcore poverty among the rural folks in deep the interiors of Malaysia, especially those believed to have been marginalized by development.

Since then Gahai has been among the buzzwords in meeting rooms and discussions at the ministry, towards certain extent in the state of the project. From hardcore poverty the ministry hopes to reduce the statistics gradually, meaning that efforts are in place to eliminate hardcore poor to being poor and eventually set them free from the shackles of the haves-not.

Since the corresponding period last year, of the 80 heads of family 50 of the Gahai folks have been making a steady and decent living, like having fixed salaries of around RM 350 and RM 700 monthly from their daily chores in the rubber estates, pineapple plantations, as tailors, van drivers and kindergarten handlers.

About 40 percent of them were enjoying income of more than RM 700 a month, taking them on the right track to a better tomorrow as promised by the government in general and the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development specifically.

This self-help community formed a committee among themselves to meet and discuss problems and handle progress, bounces ideas on how to elevate their social well-being by venturing into other economic activities while waiting for the right time to tap rubber trees in the year 2011 and to harvest pineapple late this year.

The 50 head of families were the inhabitants of the Program Bantuan Rumah (PBR) or Housing Aid Programme while the remaining 30 of them were shareholders of the scheme being old and no longer able to be active in economic activities.

These are the primary roles of the ministry at best – provide houses, build roads, light up their homes with electricity and supply clean water into their lives some through projects like agropolitan while the ministry was also entrenched into other projects to increase the income of the rural folks.

Among the projects is the Program Peningkatan Pendapatan, Program Latihan Kemahiran dan Kerjaya (Skills and Career Enhancement Programme) and Program Pembangunan Modal Insan or the Human Capital Development programmes.

Due to the various programmes implemented by the ministries on a 365/24-7 work culture and regime, the senior officers and officers of the ministry have been consumed with tones of work around the clock and committed to deliver the best for the rural folks.

Ten years ago these projects were pipe dreams to the haves-not while half a century ago the ministry sets out to combat poverty with a commitment to strive and help the almost forgotten community in our country.

Now they have a hope for a promised future and no longer darting from hand to mouth and eking out a living from unproductive practices of over the years. Things have never been the same for the officers as well as their subjects.

The bottom line of this agropolitan project was to enable the participants of Gahai to obtain income of around RM 1,050 and RM 1,200 to finally break free from abject poverty in the year 2011. The mission is already on track towards this objective.

The RM 8.5 million agropolitan was officiated by former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on July 31 last year after a series of development of the components of the project -- water supply, electricity, roads and other amenities in 2007, covering an area of about 223 hectare.

In a nutshell, an agropolitan project was meant to be an agriculture township which was developed through the various agricultural activities and agricultural-related businesses.

Two objectives -- to eradicate hardcore poverty through economic upliftment and elevating them from the poverty line as well as fast-tracking the development in the rural, remote and the neglected are the pillars of the agropolitan project.

Agropolitan is a project under the Program Lonjakan Mega Luar Bandar (PLMLB) or Rural Mega Uplifting Project, one of the attributes of the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development.

To date the ministry has been developing several agropolitan projects, namely – Chemomoi in Pahang, Kampung Gana in Sabah, Batang Sadong and Batang Lupar in Sarawak and has identified new sites for such project, among them in Sedili, Johor and Kedaya Telang Usan in Sarawak.

Hazim finally met with Shafie at the end of the minister’s visit, right in his house when the “Orang Besar” came a calling while touring the vast project to see for himself the real progress taking shape in this part of the country.

The not-so-shy lad managed a “terima kasih” to the minister, again grining from ear to ear in his best clothes which were already partly sprinkled with sweat of having to queue with the rest of his contemporaries in the dewan nearby to meet with the “Orang Besar”.

Hazim smiled, saying softly that “satu hari nanti saya nak jadi orang besar macam dia”, pointing to Dato’ Shafie who was smiling in a hearing distance.


* This posting was part of the article written by Dato' Abd. Jabar Che Nai, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development, Putrajaya and appeared in The Star newspaper on Oct 3, 2009, N32

1MALAYSIA BEGINS FROM 1REGION...

Yes, thats a new campaign which I hope could help educate my audience, the internal audience on the downstream of the 1Malaysia concept.

As far as this particular ministry is concerned, I like to put in a small piece (as my contribution) into the big picture -- that 1Malaysia Begins From 1Region. After all, we are Ministry of Rural and Regional Development...

Hence, We are 1 Region, 1Malaysia...1Malaysia Begins From 1Region...

SELAMAT ULANGTAHUN KE-51...

Selamat Hari Lahir Kak Intan...

Hari ini adalah Hari Ulangtahun ke-51 kekanda saya, Halijah atau lebih kami kenali beliau sebagai Kak Intan.

Hari ini juga adalah Hari Ulangtahun Ke-51 Tentera Udara DiRaja Malaysia atau TUDM.

Umur kekanda saya dengan TUDM adalah sama kerana kelahiran pada tarikh yang sama. Kebetulan beliau pernah berkhidmat dengan TUDM dan jawatan terakhir beliau ialah Sarjan di Pangkalan Tentera Udara DiRaja Malaysia Ipoh, Perak.

Tahun lepas semasa TUDM merayakan Perayaan Jubli Emasnya, Kak Intan saya (yang juga menyambut ulangtahun ke-50 nya) tidak dijemput untuk menjadi sebahagian daripada sambutan berkenaan, malahan surat penghargaan (atau nota pengiktirafan) pun tiada.

Boleh dimaafkan sekiranya Markas TUDM di Kuala Lumpur tidak menyedari kepentingan atau signifikan ini namun ia adalah kesilapan atau kealpaan yang agak ketara di pihak Pangkalan Tentera Udara DiRaja Ipoh, tempat terakhir beliau bertugas.

Mungkin mereka terlupa bahawa dalam ramai warga yang berkhidmat dan pernah berkhidmat dengan TUDM hanya seorang sahaja yang menyambut hari kelahirannya pada tarikh yang sama dengan kelahiran pasukan, ataupun dalam ramai yang pernah menjadi warga kerjanya, hanya tarikh lahir seorang sahaja yang begitu signifikan dengan kelahiran pasukan.

Tidak mungkin ada lagi warga kerja TUDM yang pernah atau sedang berkhidmat ketika ini yang mempunyai persamaan yang ketara ini. Namun mungkin ianya tidak signifikan kepada TUDM. Bagaimanapun bagi Puan Halijah dan kepada kami semua ia amat penting dan signifikan.

Disamping itu beliau juga adalah puteri sulung Kolonel (U) Mohd Ali Haji Rejab, seorang pegawai kanan TUDM yang pernah memberi khidmat terbaik dan menabur bakti kepada pasukan sehingga hari terakhir perkhidmatannya.

Selamat Hari Lahir Kak Intan...kami semua, Rohana, Zahir, Zaim, Zafir, Henny dan saya amat menyayangi mu, sentiasa!! Semoga KekandaKu dipanjangkan umur dan dipelihara ALLAH SWBT setiap masa...InsyALLAH...

FADASON, PARLO ITALIANO??

FADASON...if you must ask, what's that all about?

Sounds very Italian, no?

But heck no, it is not an Italian outfit but simply a Malaysian company, in fact one of the fastest growing developers in Kuala Lumpur despite the glooming economic outlook enveloping the country.

This company has been doing well with several projects here there and is on its way up the apex of developers in the Klang Valley and this outfit outshines the others in meritrocracy.

By looking at the name I would instantly knew that it derives from a combination of names of a father and son (or sons because there are quite a number of brothers in the family). This is a well-known family in politics because they de-hemogenise their presence in a single constituency but spread out their footings in Kedah, Penang and Wilayah Persekutuan.

Latest the youngest politician in the family was appointed to Majlis Tertinggi Umno, a political resurrection of sort for the 40 something man who was quite promising at one time but faced an almost political dead-end in Kedah when he was just made an ordinary state assemblyman.

However, he lost a parliamentary seat he contested in the last general election. But then again, who did not? Most Umno candidates including the good ones drowned in the 2008 tsunami.

Now prime minister Najib T. Razak acknowledges his political acumen and bestowed greatness in him once again.

He is part of FADASON, in fact he is the dynamics behind the name.

If you drive along Jalan Kepong you will not miss the name, proudly displayed on several signboards.

FADASON, agustie italiano?...scuze paisan!!

CLEAR, PRECISE AND PRACTICAL...

After much walkabouts and talkabout, Shabery spells it out...

The setting need not be a formal and protocol-concious atmosphere for Ahmad Shabery Cheek to announce a new navigation for Sports in his second week as the new Youth and Sports Minister.

What's important that his message for Sports to be taken seriously was clear and precise and if the audience had not paid any attention to his speech at a special gathering of the KBS Family on Tuesday it was to their peril.

Shabery pointed out that it will be his tour of duty to strife for Malaysians to adopt a sporting culture, with sports as the primary concern. Sports trancends all tangible and intangible barriers and it is only apt for the ministry to expect a little tweak here and there as per the presence of the new captain to drive home the message.

"Sports is life, sports is everything and sports rises above everything. For example two hard fought boxers could be merciless and mean in the ring but once the fight is over the fighters will throw around a hug in the true sporting spirit," he told KBS (Kementerian Belia dan Sukan) staffs who filled to the brim the multipurpose hall in the adjoining building which houses the Department of Civil Aviation.

Later in the evening, the minister reiterated his message to a specific audience at the National Sports Council, saying that while Malaysians should adopt a sporting culture, sportsmen and sportswomen must also be in for the medal.

He was meeting with national sportsmen and sportswomen who were on training sessions at the sports center in Bukit Jalil during his tour to the council.

"There is no two way about it," he said, singling out the quest for medal vis-a-vis sporting excellence is another process of strengthening patriotism and nationalism. It was also the reflection of our resilient.

That Malaysians greatness in sports must be translated in the collection of medal is as good as the non-compromising stand of the ministry. Among those in the crowd listening to his short speech were Lee Chong Wei, the almost All-England champion and Beijing Olympics gold medallist, bowling champion Shalin Zulkifli, former All-England doubles champion Jailani Sidek and NSC boss Zolkples Embong.

The golfer and bowler Shabery completed his policy outline with the third point of making sports an industry, meaning that sports is to be taken seriously from now on.

"Sports should no longer be seen as the alternative for those who do not excell in academic but sports to be taken seriously as a career. In short, sports is not for the rejects," Shabery said to the shouts of Malaysia Boleh by his audience.

Then the tree-point policy has been laid out clearly and precisely and for a practical reason that sports is now a serious business in as far as the ministry is concerned.

We now await the minister's navigation on youth, the other focus of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

SYABAS AHMAD SHABERY CHEEK...

My sincere congratulation to Ahmad Shabery Cheek on his appointment as Youth and Sports Minister in Najib Tun Razak's Cabinet announced last week.

He is taking over Menara KBS once helmed by Ismail Sabri Yaakob (their identities were always confused. Ismail Sabri, 50, is the Bera MP in Pahang while Shabery, 51, is Kemaman MP in Terengganu) who had put in motion several initiatives including the Road to London which I found it to be very inspiring.

This is the ministry which produced 2 prime ministers -- Tuanku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj and Najib Tun Razak and 3 Deputy Prime Ministers -- Anwar Ibrahim, Najib and Muhyiddin Yassin. There were many colorful individuals who walked the corridors of power here at Menara KBS and I am sure you know their names.

Therefore this is NOT a junior ministry as people had always made it out to be.

It cannot be an insignificant ministry for it speaks to the bigger slice of the population -- youth who are rapidly numbering up as the majority of voters in the next general election or PRU-13. It was told that as many as 70 percent of the voters in the next general election will be our youth.

On the other hand, the ministry handles sports -- the single most important unifying factor of our country Malaysia. Yes, sports is the universal bond which unites the people from all races, creed, religion, strata, background etc.

So its gonna be a heavy responsibility for Ahmaad Shabery who is a scholar. His deputies are Wee Jeck Seng and Razali Ibrahim, both MPs are from Johor.

Shabery will be assisted by Yassin Salleh, the benign and most abled Secretary-General (the nicest KSU I have ever met) who is in turn being assisted by his two deputies -- Borhan "Bob" Dollah (management) and Mohid who is in charge of operation.

Welcome onboard Youth & Sports Minister Ahmad Shabery...I shall be of help to you...

OF UMNO GODFATHER, BAD LOSERS AND RESIGNATION...

He walks into a grand entrance and a thunderous reception.

Very apt for the Godfather of Umno. Afterall, this is his Umno, his party and his everything.

"Wow!, what a return", somebody quipped while watching the drama unfolding at Dewan Merdeka PWTC, the very same hall he had announced "dah lama dah!" in 2003 to the unprepared crowd while winding up the debate at another assembly.

In the same breath and sentence Grand Old Masta Tun Dr Mohamad told the delegates that he is quiting after more than 20 years at the top.

This time he is staying for good, after having kept his word that he will only re-join the party once "that guy" is done with. And Abdullah Haji Ahmad is already a history.

Welcome Home Sir!


There are losers -- good losers and bad losers.

Bad losers reflect their inner self for they do not practise what they preach.

Good losers are like Mukhriz Mahathir while the opposite is embodied in an Old Lady (a grandmother actually) who was heading a movement in Umno.

There are bad losers and bad losers, and this is the latter!

Perhaps she could not take it that her tenure ends with a resounding defeat and one that she was not prepared for. But whatever it was, she should have shown her political maturity as a party elder and to show support to the victor.

When she was at the top her usual clarion call was for the Wanita Umno members to close ranks after a contest. Perhaps this time her inner self got the better of her, thus staying away from the assembly for good.


Shahrir Samad, like or hate him but this man is principled, period.

He had announced to resign the Cabinet next week. This is examplary and should be emulated by the others, especially the losers in the keenly contested party election for the Majlis Tertinggi Umno.

What about the others? Today Azalina Othman Said said she will not resign her ministership and leaving it to in-coming prime minister Najib Tun Razak to decide.

By right ALL members of the Cabinet regardless from Umno, MCA, MIC and Gerakan as well as those from Sabah and Sarawak should resign to make way for the new Cabinet.

If I am not mistaken Dr Rais Yatim, able minister and an an expert on constitutional law said the entire Cabinet is disbanded once the prime minister resigns his chair for he was the one who had nominated to the Yang DiPertuan Agong the formation of the Cabinet or Jemaah Menteri vis-a-vis the consent and appointments.

The Abdullah Cabinet should resign to help Najib prepares for his. The new chief should not be burdened with old political baggages among the members of the Cabinet and they should do the right thing.

In the step taken by Shahrir, the losers (quite a number of them!) should also announced their resignations as soon as possible.

Resigning now is politically and morally correct thing to do.