RM2,000 administrative grants disbursed to each JKKK in Penampang

26 October 2023

By Nabalu News Journalist

PENAMPANG: Penampang Parliament Member Datuk Ewon Benedick has disbursed a total of RM166,000 in administrative grants to 83 Village Development and Security Committees (JKKK) and Urban Development Committees (JKDB) within the Penampang parliamentary constituency.

Ewon, who is also the Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, stated that each JKKK and JKDB received RM2,000.

"This is my commitment and responsibility as the representative of the Penampang Parliament to assist the JKKK and JKDB bodies. I have allocated RM166,000 from the Parliament Member's allocation for the purpose of these administrative grants.

"These administrative grants are intended to help them cover meeting expenses, such as electricity and water bills, as well as community cleanup programmes they organide.

"I intend to make this an annual programme where we will provide administrative grants to the JKKK bodies each year, with the condition that it must be recorded in the respective JKKK and JKDB accounts," he said after delivering the contribution here yesterday.

Regarding the Madani Community Fund announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the recent 2024 Budget, Ewon stated that the new initiative is for the MADANI community programme with a total allocation of RM1 billion, where allocations ranging from RM50,000 to RM100,000 will be disbursed to support proposed projects.

Every community body, such as JKKK and JKDB, can apply for infrastructure projects or economic projects with costs ranging from RM50,000 to RM100,000 in their respective villages.

This is the first time that the Prime Minister and the Federal Government have provided such an initiative to empower the community.

"This approach will complement other initiatives implemented by elected representatives, district offices, and various other ministries in their villages," he said.

He stated that the unity government aims to empower community bodies by focusing on direct applications and implementing proposed projects according to the methods determined by the community bodies themselves.

Ewon said that to provide understanding to the JKKK and JKDB bodies, particularly in the Kadamaian and Penampang areas, he will invite representatives from the ICU of the Prime Minister's Department or the Ministry of Economy, who are responsible for implementing the Madani Economic Program, to provide further explanations.

Regarding the role of JKKK chairpersons, Ewon stated that JKKK has a significant responsibility in the administration of a village.

"They are the 'cabinet' at the village level; they need to disseminate information from the government to the people in their respective villages and act as facilitators.

"They also serve as intermediaries between the villagers and elected representatives, government departments such as the district council, district offices, or government agencies," he said.