Zahid, who also serves as the rural and regional development minister, said a review was essential as the nation prepares for the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), which would require more ambitious and innovative planning.

“Honesty is the best policy. We must be brave enough to accept the truth, acknowledge our weaknesses, and rectify any mistakes.

“The key performance indicators we set each year must be based on public satisfaction because we are here to serve them and their future,” he said when delivering a New Year’s message at his ministry’s headquarters today.

Zahid said the Rural Development Policy Action Plan 2030 and the ministry’s Strategic Plan 2025 would also undergo reviews to ensure their alignment with the goals of the 13MP.

He said Universiti Kuala Lumpur had been tasked with conducting a comprehensive study on public satisfaction regarding the availability of basic needs, facilities, and efforts to stimulate the socio-economic development of rural areas.

“The findings are crucial to ensuring that our plans remain relevant and become more impactful,” he said.

He added that staff and agencies under the rural and regional development ministry must adopt strategic thinking with a cross-functional approach to minimise overlap, boost efficiency, and optimise the use of resources.

“This approach will be implemented through three clusters: the human capital cluster, the economic cluster, and the entrepreneurial cluster.

“We must consolidate the strengths of every organisation with diverse skills and experiences to achieve a common goal,” he added.