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This Spotlight is sponsored by Jabatan Ketua Menteri Melaka.
Melaka's Jelajah Ketua Menteri Sayang Rakyat (Chief Minister Loves The People tour) has taken the act of addressing public complaints a step further by visiting communities directly
The programme, led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, serves as a continuation of the Wakil Rakyat Untuk Rakyat (WRUR) initiative, which provides a platform for residents to highlight local issues.
Rather than collecting new complaints alone, the tour functions as a follow-up exercise to review the progress made by the relevant agencies.
According to the state government, the initiative is intended to ensure that issues raised by the public are not left unresolved. So far, a total of 4,072 complaints have been raised under the WRUR programme, with 2,982 complaints resolved and more currently receiving attention.
During the Sungai Rambai stop, Ab Rauf met with various community groups, including fishermen at Jeti Sebatu and residents of Kampung Seri Mendapat
The on-the-ground approach allows residents to share their feedback, suggestions and concerns directly with the state leadership, while giving government agencies an opportunity to review outstanding issues and coordinate follow-up action where necessary.
Besides engaging with residents, the programme also included assistance for several groups within the local community
Groups included local entrepreneurs, fishermen, farmers and smallholders, members of the Indian community, and students receiving education assistance.
The aid is aimed at easing the financial burden on eligible recipients while complementing the state's broader community welfare initiatives.
During the accompanying Commodity Day Festival, the Melaka government announced several initiatives for the state's commodity sector:
1. A strategic sesearch Station for the palm oil industry
The state government agreed to allocate 100 acres of land to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) for a Strategic Research Station under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK-13).
The project, valued at an estimated RM20 million to RM25 million, is expected to include a model plantation, research and development facilities, modern laboratories, training centres, accommodation for TUNAS officers and other supporting infrastructure.
2. A new farm road for smallholders
The Ministry of Plantation and Commodities approved RM400,000 to build a 5km private smallholder farm road in Ladang Lembah Kesang, Mukim Semujuk.
The project is expected to benefit more than 200 smallholders in the area.
3. Support for replanting ageing oil palm trees
MPOB is also continuing its Oil Palm Smallholder Replanting Financing Incentive Scheme 2.0, which helps eligible smallholders replace ageing oil palm trees with higher-quality, higher-yielding planting materials.
Next, the programme will continue with a new statewide tour
Following the completion of its inaugural run, Jelajah Ketua Menteri Sayang Rakyat will begin its next round of visits on 9 July, extending to the entire state of Melaka.
The state government says the continuation of the programme is intended to strengthen follow-up on public complaints while maintaining direct engagement with communities across the state.
