Zahid orders agencies to scrap projects no longer viable

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has instructed all Rural and Regional Development Ministry departments and agencies to terminate non-viable projects immediately. The Zero Backlog operation, launched by Zahid, aims to clear outstanding matters across all agencies by December. This involves reviewing pending projects, payments, land issues, utilities, contracts, assets, and unresolved decisions.

Projects deemed no longer practical or viable must be scrapped. The ministry anticipates a potential RM6 billion funding shortfall for rural development under the 2027 rolling plan, despite requesting RM14.39 billion from the Finance Ministry. Zahid emphasized that every problem should have an owner, each project a timeline, and every meeting a decision.

He underscored that modern rural development projects must effectively reach remote, scattered communities across challenging terrain. The effectiveness of large-scale programmes should be evaluated based on whether they deliver tangible results, rather than solely based on output or expenditure. Zahid stressed that a large programme is not always the most effective solution.