KUALA LUMPUR, 29 August 2025 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called for the speeding up of road development projects across rural Malaysia, describing them as critical to easing what he termed the “extraordinary hardship” still faced by many communities living outside urban centres.
Speaking at a rural development briefing, Anwar underscored that timely delivery of infrastructure projects—particularly road connectivity—remains one of the most pressing issues for the government. Poor road conditions, long travel times, and the absence of reliable access continue to limit economic opportunities and public services for thousands of Malaysians.
“The Ministry of Rural and Regional Development must not only execute projects but also ensure they are completed with urgency and efficiency. Delays translate into prolonged suffering for people who depend on these roads for school access, healthcare, and livelihood,” Anwar said.
Real-Time Monitoring and Cabinet Accountability
Anwar urged the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) to adopt real-time monitoring mechanisms, ensuring every road project is tracked from inception to completion. If bottlenecks occur, he insisted they be immediately escalated to the Cabinet for resolution. This, he noted, is crucial for transparency and accountability in public spending.
He also reminded government agencies and contractors that infrastructure development cannot be viewed solely as an engineering exercise but as a social responsibility to uplift living standards. In many remote areas, poor road access has been directly linked to underperforming education outcomes, limited healthcare accessibility, and slower regional economic growth.
Integrating Education and Skills in Development
Beyond physical roads, Anwar said KKDW should broaden its scope to include human capital development as part of the infrastructure agenda. He placed special emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education for rural youth, arguing that rural development is not only about connectivity but also about equipping the next generation with knowledge and skills to thrive in a modern economy.
“Infrastructure gives access, but education builds capacity. Our rural children deserve the same exposure to STEM and digital literacy as their urban counterparts. The ministry must design programmes that bridge this gap,” Anwar added.
He directed that clear timelines, structured training modules, and improved coordination between agencies be drawn up to ensure rural education initiatives are integrated alongside infrastructure development.
Broader Development Agenda
The Prime Minister’s directive comes as Malaysia prepares for the rollout of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) from 2026 to 2030, which allocates RM430 billion for development expenditure. Out of this, RM227 billion will be dedicated to infrastructure, public transport, and housing. The rural sector is expected to benefit significantly as part of the government’s commitment to narrowing the urban-rural divide.
Road development has historically been one of the largest components of rural expenditure, with improved highways, feeder roads, and bridges opening up new economic corridors. Anwar stressed that such projects must not only meet engineering specifications but also deliver social equity, inclusivity, and resilience.
Aligning with National Priorities
The Prime Minister also linked the urgency of rural road projects to broader goals such as food security, trade competitiveness, and industrial development. Efficient road connectivity is essential to link rural farms to markets, reduce logistics costs for small businesses, and provide rural entrepreneurs with access to regional trade hubs.
Observers note that this directive strengthens the government’s pro-people focus in infrastructure planning, aiming not just at headline economic growth but also at raising living standards in rural Malaysia, where infrastructure gaps remain one of the biggest barriers to equitable growth.
Anwar concluded that while budgetary discipline and accountability remain central, the government’s priority will always be to shorten the development gap and ensure that every Malaysian—whether in the heart of Kuala Lumpur or in the interior of Sabah and Sarawak—can enjoy improved access to opportunities.
