Lahad datu: The Community Development Department (KEMAS) will take on extraordinary roles in mainstreaming knowledge, building community potential, and delivering services in an inclusive and holistic manner. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi highlighted KEMAS’s initiatives as part of the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW), focusing on transformative programmes to develop community entrepreneurship.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid emphasized the support KEMAS provides, including encouragement, assistance, loans, and supervision, to foster entrepreneurship among the youth. He cited the KEMAS activity centre in Kampung Sapagaya as an example, where a sewing workshop was established to support women, mothers, and youth.

Ahmad Zahid, also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, noted that KKDW has introduced 42 ‘game changers’ this year to strengthen human capital. These include reforms in the KEMAS kindergarten education system and strategies to empower rural education. Major initiatives involve establishing KEMAS pre-tahfiz kindergartens, tahfiz TVET, and digital education in rural areas, such as smart classroom@KEMAS, and producing young huffaz through the PeliTa@KEMAS programme.

He announced the launch of the Special Tunas Kindergarten @ KEMAS for children with autism, beginning in Melaka, with plans to expand nationwide. The goal is for each district to have an autism kindergarten class under KEMAS to assist parents.

Additionally, more than 50 per cent of KEMAS kindergartens across the country will be upgraded to enhance the quality of early childhood education facilities. At the programme, Ahmad Zahid also presented equipment for the Rural Entrepreneurship Strengthening Support Programme (SPKLB) and officiated the KEMAS kindergarten building and skills classes.