Plan To Develop 21st Century Villages

SEMPORNA (Malaysia), March 10 (Bernama) -- The Rural and Regional Development Ministry plans to create 21st century villages nationwide, said its minister, Mohd Shafie Apdal. He said discussions had been held with the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) to look into the feasibility and viability of the programme. "It is important for the 21st century village concept to come to fruition for there are many potential villages that could be developed," he told reporters after attending the meet-the-people session at Sekolah Kebangsaan Tongkallah, Bumbum Island near here Friday. He said 21st century villages would be enterprising villages where the residents could earn better income through economic activities. "A fisherman may not longer depend solely on his catch to support his family. He could become a farmer and cultivate various types of crops identified for his village," he added. -- BERNAMA