IPOH, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- More than 2,000 people attended the 2026 MADANI Kita Programme (PMK) in Kepayang, organised by the Perak Information Department (JAPEN), featuring 60 exhibitors from various government departments and agencies.
Perak Communications, Multimedia and NGO Committee chairman Mohd Azlan Helmi said the programme, themed ‘Memaknai Harapan Rakyat’ (Realising the People's Hopes), not only brought various services together at one location but also provided an opportunity for the public to understand government policies and initiatives.
“We organise this programme in a more relaxed, accessible and easy-to-understand manner to help the public access the services provided by the government,” he told reporters after officiating at the 2026 PMK Kepayang at Dewan Greentown, Jalan Galeri Kepayang 2, here today.
Organised in collaboration with the Performance Acceleration Coordination Unit (PACU) and the Prime Minister's Office, the programme offered various activities and direct services to the public, including Jualan RAHMAH, Jualan Agro MADANI, exhibitions and government service counters, briefings on current issues, helmet exchanges, health and dental screenings, motorcycle engine oil changes and free haircuts.
The programme also featured children's colouring and family competitions, the ‘Bintang Kecil’ singing competition, a civic knowledge quiz, flower arrangement and ‘pulut kuning’ decoration competitions, as well as lucky draws.
At the programme, Mohd Azlan also presented Bakul RAHMAH food baskets containing food items and essential goods to 100 recipients in the Kepayang state constituency to help ease their financial burden.
Meanwhile, he said the state government was prioritising efforts to strengthen telecommunications services in strategically located industrial areas as part of integrated planning to support Perak's economic growth.
These areas include Lumut Maritime Industrial City (LuMIC) and Perak Halal Industrial Park (Perak HIP) in Manjung, Kerian Integrated Green Industrial Park (KIGIP) in Kerian, Silver Valley Technology Park (SVTP) in Chemor, and Automotive High-Tech Valley (AHTV) in Tanjong Malim.
He said efforts to strengthen connectivity infrastructure in these areas would be carried out through the Perak State Telecommunications Coverage and Connectivity Committee (J-PILL), in collaboration with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
“Through this committee, we are focusing on strengthening telecommunications coverage, particularly through the deployment of fibre-optic networks in these strategic areas.
“To ensure the initiative is realised, we will use part of the total RM350 million allocation announced by the Prime Minister for MCMC under Budget 2026 to strengthen telecommunications networks,” he said.
Mohd Azlan added that the state government was also committed to ensuring that the Orang Asli community throughout Perak was not left behind in digital development through continued improvements to telecommunications networks in their settlements.
He said the main challenge facing the community was no longer the lack of access to telecommunications services, but rather the quality and stability of coverage, which remained weak in some remote locations.
“For example, we, together with MCMC, will visit the Orang Asli settlement at Pos Kemar in Gerik on Oct 26 to assess the situation on the ground and evaluate in detail the level of connectivity and the improvements needed,” he said.
-- BERNAMA