Zahid Hamidi directs Rural Development Ministry to clear backlog by year-end

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 1 — The Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) is implementing “Operation Zero Delay” for the last four months of this year by focusing on the immediate completion of projects, payments, land issues, utilities, contracts, assets and decisions that are still pending.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the move was important given that the time remaining until 2026 is not long, besides the cost of a problem would increase if decisions were further delayed.

“The remaining four months of this year, I want us to add less new things and more to complete what we have started.

“(So) I want all divisions, departments and agencies to implement Operation Zero Delay,” he said when speaking at the KKDW Monthly Assembly here today.

Ahmad Zahid said a comprehensive review should be carried out this month covering all projects, payments, land issues, utilities, contracts, assets and decisions that have not yet been resolved.

“Then I want it to be clearly divided into three categories, namely those that can be resolved (resolved immediately), those that require a higher decision or intervention and determine who needs to make the decision.. and (projects) that are no longer practical or viable, do not keep them in the system but make a decision and close them,” he said.

He said every issue brought up must also have a responsible party, a clear time frame and a decision to avoid problems recurring from one meeting to another without resolution.

“My principle is simple: No issue without an owner, no project without a timeline, no meeting without a decision,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid said the ability to implement a project is as important as the ability to plan because approval and allocation alone do not guarantee that the benefits will be received by the people within the stipulated time.

He said that delays in land acquisition, utility coordination, contractor problems, delayed decisions or weak coordination between agencies can create implementation gaps so that the people do not receive the benefits of the project on time.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid wanted the issue of payment to contractors to be given serious attention, especially for work that has been implemented and has achieved progress as stipulated in the development contract including the rural road project under KKDW.

He said late payments not only put pressure on contractors, but could also affect the cash flow of suppliers, subcontractors, employees and service providers, thus affecting the entire economic chain in an area.

“When payments are delayed, the effect does not stop at just one company. It puts pressure on the cash flow of suppliers, implementers, subcontractors, workers, service providers and subsequently the entire economic chain in an area,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid said good fiscal management was not only about controlling expenses, but also ensuring that commitments made were managed responsibly so that confidence in the government was not affected.

He said in a situation where financial resources and implementation capacity were limited, KKDW needed to avoid starting too many projects simultaneously, causing some of them to fail to be completed properly.

“It is better for us to focus on things that are really needed, provide sufficient resources and ensure that they are completed properly rather than chasing a large number of projects but leaving too many commitments to be completed,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid said a government’s ability was not only judged based on how well it planned, but also on how well it was able to solve the people’s problems, in line with the KKDW principle of bridging the gap between rural communities and opportunities, progress and a better life. — Bernama