TONGOD: The Majlis Sentuhan Kasih Desa @ Kuamut programme has been described as an important platform to strengthen political cooperation and rural development, particularly in interior areas such as Tongod and Kuamut.
Deputy Prime Minister and Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the choice of Tongod as the host location reflected the government’s commitment to focusing on interior districts with strong potential despite ongoing development challenges.
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He said Tongod, although located in central Sabah, could be developed in line with other districts through the strengthening of early education via the Community Development Department (Kemas) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (Tvet), including the repair and upgrading of all dilapidated Kemas premises in rural and interior areas such as Kuamut and Tongod.
Speaking when officiating the programme at Tongod square on Thursday, Ahmad Zahid also called on all parties to set aside political differences for state stability, expressed confidence in cooperation among GRS, BN, Upko and other parties in the Sabah government under Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, and voiced support for Barisan Nasional’s Kinabatangan by-election candidate Naim Moktar.
He said development applications from Tongod and Kuamut would be given serious consideration at ministry level, added that Sabah recorded the highest rural development allocation under the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development in Budget 2026, reiterated the Madani government’s commitment to rural communities through Tvet and entrepreneurship with Mara receiving over RM4 billion, and said 642 Kemas kindergarten pupils in the Kuamut constituency received schooling assistance at the event.
