Rural Development Ministry to clear project backlog by year-end

PUTRAJAYA — The Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) has been tasked with eliminating accumulated project backlogs as part of a government push to accelerate service delivery in rural areas. Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi issued the directive to clear outstanding commitments by the end of the year, signalling the administration's focus on reducing implementation delays that have affected rural communities.

The 'Operation Zero Backlog' initiative represents a comprehensive effort to identify, prioritise, and complete stalled development projects within the ministry's portfolio. Officials have been instructed to review all pending schemes and establish clear timelines for completion, with particular attention to infrastructure and livelihood programmes that directly benefit rural populations.

The move reflects broader government efforts to improve project delivery efficiency and restore public confidence in rural development spending. By consolidating resources and removing administrative bottlenecks, the ministry aims to demonstrate tangible progress in upgrading infrastructure and services in underserved regions.

Ministry officials are expected to submit regular progress reports to track advancement against the year-end deadline. The clearance drive is positioned as a test case for implementing similar efficiency measures across other government agencies managing infrastructure and development programmes.