Rural development must no longer be seen through a domestic lens but as part of a broader regional and global agenda, says Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid.
MARAN: Rural development can no longer be viewed solely through a domestic lens but must form part of a broader regional and global agenda, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said rural entrepreneurs must be bold enough to expand into larger markets, including ASEAN and the global halal economy.
“The opportunities ahead are immense. Malaysian rural products and brands must have the confidence to penetrate international markets. This can only be achieved if we recognise that rural networks should not stop at national borders,” he said at the World Rural Development Day 2026 celebration at Bandar Tun Razak Stadium here today.
Also present were Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and Rural and Regional Development Deputy Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang.
Ahmad Zahid said he wants the National Rural Economy Agenda to serve as the country’s overarching blueprint for the next phase of rural development.
As such, he said the ministry has introduced several new initiatives over the past three years to strengthen the rural economy, including RisSMart and IkonDesa, to help entrepreneurs market their products more widely.
“More than 7,000 new rural entrepreneurs have been developed, creating 15,000 jobs and generating sales exceeding RM1.77 billion. We are moving beyond infrastructure-focused development towards a more holistic, competitive rural economy that is ready to meet the demands of future markets,” he said.
On human capital development, Ahmad Zahid said nearly 500 Orang Asli students had gained admission to universities, marking the highest number ever recorded.
He also said that during the 12th Malaysia Plan, nearly 5,000km of rural roads were upgraded to improve infrastructure connectivity.
“At the same time, electricity was extended to more than 7,000 homes and clean water was supplied to over 10,000 rural households. Nearly 10,000 homes have also been built or refurbished, benefiting almost 40,000 rural residents,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid said today’s celebration recognises the contributions of stakeholders who have driven rural development and played a key role in the country’s prosperity.
World Rural Development Day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly on Sept 6, 2024, with July 6 designated as its annual observance to mark the establishment of the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific.
The first global celebration was held on July 6, 2025, with Malaysia becoming one of the member states to officially observe the occasion from 2026.
