Agencies and departments under the Communications Ministry are encouraged to emulate the Malaysian National News Agency’s (Bernama) initiative, which pioneered the Santuni MADANI – One Leader One Village programme through Kampung Angkat Bernama@Batu Laut, Tanjung Sepat, near here.
Communications Ministry Deputy Secretary-General (Strategic Communications and Creative Industry) Nik Kamaruzaman Nik Husin said that Bernama’s initiative aligns with the government’s recommendations for enhancing village potential while addressing the socio-economic needs of local residents.
‘Through this programme, we will identify the needs of the people in selected villages, and propose solutions to issues such as poverty, education, unemployment, and health,’ he explained. ‘I hope that other departments and agencies will adopt similar approaches, to ensure the success of the Kampung Angkat MADANI initiative,’ he told Bernama, after the launch of the Communications Ministry’s Santuni MADANI – One Leader One Village – Kampung
Angkat Bernama@Batu Laut.
In addition to Bernama, other agencies under the Ministry of Communications include the Tun Abdul Razak Broadcasting and Information Institute (IPPTAR), the Department of Information (JaPen), the Broadcasting Department, the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas), and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
On May 5, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim proposed that every leader in the country, including himself as Prime Minister, should be responsible for overseeing a village, to gain firsthand insight into the challenges these communities face.
The Santuni MADANI – One Leader One Village programme is managed by the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) of the Prime Minister’s Department.
According to Nik Kamaruzaman, the selection of Kampung Batu Laut as the adopted village aligns with the initiative’s goals, emphasising educational aspects. This includes increasing awareness about Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), exploring ca
reer paths, and promoting reading.
‘By fostering a culture of reading within the community, we can enhance skills, interests, and personal potential, particularly among students in the field of education,’ he said.
Earlier, the Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister and Member of Parliament for Sepang Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu officiated the programme, which was also attended by Bernama Chief Executive Officer Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin; Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj; and Kampung Batu Laut village head Subandi Sangandi.
The event featured the handover of books for the Little Free Library (LFL) initiative, part of the 3B (Read with Bernama) Campaign.
More than 200 local residents participated in various activities, including aerobics, quizzes, children’s sports, and radio and television news reading competitions.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency