By Suhaila Shahrul Annuar
KLANG, Oct 26 — Village chiefs and headmen must be flexible and agile in adapting to changes from the rapid development of technology.
Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said this is important as community leaders must ensure their roles remain relevant.
“Village chiefs must master the latest information so they have a purpose in the community, and must be ready to learn and adapt to changes, to ensure they can help the government implement policies and decisions.
“With how rapidly changes occur, if we are not perceptive and are avoidant (to change), we will be left behind, affecting not only ourselves but also this institution.
“This institution of village chiefs and headmen has a long history. In Selangor, once upon a time, village chiefs were among essential communication agents for the government under the ruler at the time, which shows how important their roles were,” he said.
[caption id="attachment_377443" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari (centre) seen during the launch of the Malaysia Village Chiefs/Headman Games logo during the officiation of the 4th Peninsular Malaysia Village Chief/Headman Association Retreat at Wyndham Acmar Hotel, Klang, on October 25, 2024. — Picture by FIKRI YUSOF/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
He was speaking at the 4th Peninsular Malaysia Village Chief/Headman Association Retreat at Wyndham Acmar Hotel here yesterday, which was attended by about 500 people.
Amirudin added that, considering the roles and functions of community leader institutions in the country, it is fair for them to be graded and promoted, and said he would bring the matter to Parliament.
“Their functions and roles in the community are immense, complex and highly complicated. We must think about positions and grade positions that are more suited to changes to their responsibilities to the community,” he said.
To this end, he said the RM600 million allocated in Budget 2025 to catalyse the economies of rural areas and Orang Asli villages shows the federal government’s commitment to empowering the institution.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when tabling Budget 2025 said the government has also allocated RM200 million to expand the Madani Foster Village programme to 200 more villages, as well as another RM100 million to public universities to implement the programme.
[caption id="attachment_377441" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari (centre) seen during the launch of the Malaysia Village Chiefs/Headman Games logo during the officiation of the 4th Peninsular Malaysia Village Chief/Headman Association Retreat at Wyndham Acmar Hotel, Klang, on October 25, 2024. — Picture by FIKRI YUSOF/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
