Ismail Abdul Muttalib (PN-Maran) had questioned why New Villages, totalling 613 nationwide, were still under the housing and local government ministry.

“If it remains under the housing and local government ministry, it appears misaligned with the ministry’s vision, which is focussed on urban communities, not villages.

“These New Villages should not fall under the housing and local government ministry’s jurisdiction,” he told the Dewan Rakyat when debating the Supply Bill 2025.

He also asked why a previous proposal to place New Villages under the purview of the national unity ministry was rejected on grounds that the government did not want any settlement to be identified solely by ethnicity.

“If we consider the history of the New Villages, they were created to prevent the Chinese community from being influenced by communism. Therefore, I urge the government to reconsider this matter,” he said.

Ismail said all villages, including Indian and Malay villages, should be placed under the rural and regional development ministry or even the national unity ministry.

Under the federal budget tabled last month, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that RM84 million would be allocated for the upgrading of New Villages.