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The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
Risda Carnival 2025 targets 10k visitors with 60 local delicacies
KUALA LUMPUR: The Rasa Asli Desa Risda Carnival 2025 kicked off today, running until June 30, with organisers targeting over 10,000 visitors. The event features 28 entrepreneurs from 13 states presenting more than 60 types of local culinary delights. Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) Datuk Rubiah Wang highlighted the ministry's support for rural entrepreneurs, particularly smallholders under the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda). 'Programmes like this not only add value in terms of marketing and sales, but also provide a real space to strengthen brands, business matching and market network development for rural entrepreneurs,' she said during the launch at Wangsa Walk. Rubiah noted that many participating entrepreneurs earn between RM5,000 and RM10,000 monthly, with some already recording RM1,000 to RM2,000 in sales on the first day. She expressed confidence in achieving the carnival's RM200,000 sales target. Themed 'Rasa Tulen, Sentuhan Istimewa' (Authentic Flavours, Special Touch), the event blends tradition with creativity, featuring dishes like kek lapis, rendang maman, and gulai temenung. Noorazlina Saramali, a 32-year-old entrepreneur from Beaufort, Sabah, shared her enthusiasm for introducing Sabahan specialties like kelupis and kucong to urban visitors. 'Kelupis is glutinous rice cooked with coconut milk and steamed in the same way as kucong, but kucong has a peanut filling flavoured with shrimp. I want to introduce kelupis to the people of Kuala Lumpur because this food is rarely available here,' she said. Siti Hajar Husnan, 39, from Negeri Sembilan, brought Johor's burasak and lepat loi, typically seasonal treats now available year-round thanks to retort processing. 'Actually, this is a seasonal food, but when we process it using the retort method, it can last up to a year and can be eaten anytime. We also sell it online on Shopee and TikTok, good thing there is always demand,' she said. The carnival also features the RisSMart 24 brand stall by Risda Agri Food Sdn Bhd (RAFI), offering pastries, wagyu skewers, and tom yam bowls. Additional activities include traditional cooking demos, a nostalgia-themed night showcase, and a kids' beauty pageant.
Barnama
a day ago
- Business
- Barnama
Risda Carnival Targets 10,000 Visitors, Highlights Over 60 Local Delicacies
KUALA LUMPUR, June 27 (Bernama) -- The Rasa Asli Desa Risda Carnival 2025, which runs from today until June 30, is expected to draw over 10,000 visitors, with the participation of 28 entrepreneurs from 13 states showcasing over 60 types of local culinary products. Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) Datuk Rubiah Wang said the ministry fully supports all proactive efforts in empowering the role of the rural community, especially the smallholder community under the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda). "Programmes like this not only add value in terms of marketing and sales, but also provide a real space to strengthen brands, business matching and market network development for rural entrepreneurs," she told reporters after launching the carnival at Wangsa Walk here today. She said most entrepreneurs involved in the carnival have a monthly income of between RM5,000 and RM10,000 and such programmes have the potential to further increase their income. 'From the comments I got from entrepreneurs earlier, some have already earned more than RM1,000 to RM2,000 today, so I think the sales target of more than RM200,000 throughout the carnival can be achieved,' she added. Themed 'Rasa Tulen, Sentuhan Istimewa (Authentic Flavours, Special Touch), the carnival highlights a modern and creative approach in showcasing the traditional flavours of village cuisine from 13 states, such as 'kek lapis', 'rendang maman' and 'gulai temenung'. Meanwhile, an entrepreneur from Beaufort, Sabah, Noorazlina Saramali, 32, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity by Risda to participate in the carnival, which allows her to introduce traditional foods from the state to city dwellers. She said that among the special foods brought were 'kelupis' and 'kucong', which are synonymous with the people of Sabah and Sarawak during festive seasons and social gatherings. "Kelupis is glutinous rice cooked with coconut milk and steamed in the same way as kucong, but kucong has a peanut filling flavoured with shrimp. I want to introduce kelupis to the people of Kuala Lumpur because this food is rarely available here," she said.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Desa Kirana to turn 20 rural villages into tourism hubs by 2026
PETALING JAYA: A total of 20 rural destinations across Malaysia are set to be transformed into vibrant tourism hubs under the Desa Kirana@KKDW programme, a key initiative by the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKDW) to boost rural economies ahead of Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2026. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the programme, which offers structured rural tourism products, is expected to yield measurable outcomes by next year, including at least a 20 per cent increase in income for targeted groups, depending on the product and location. "Currently, two pilot sites have been selected, Kampung Pulau Tanjung Surat in Johor and Kampung Lonek in Negeri Sembilan, based on their high potential in offering rural tourism experiences, vibrant community-based activities, and rich cultural and heritage attractions. "Overall, Desa Kirana@KKDW is expected to serve as a catalyst for sustainable and inclusive rural tourism growth, transforming rural villages into competitive and appealing tourist destinations. "The programme, spearheaded by KKDW's Community Economic Development Division (EK), is also a 2025 'game changer' aimed at strengthening the rural tourism ecosystem," he said during the official launch of Desa Kirana@KKDW at Sunway Putra Hotel today. Also present was Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Rubiah Wang. Earlier, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, chaired the 1/2025 MEXCLUB Coordination Meeting held in conjunction with the launch. He said Desa Kirana@KKDW aims to comprehensively promote existing rural tourism attractions, particularly those under KKDW and its affiliated agencies, to both domestic and international visitors. "The programme also targets modern travellers, such as digital nomads, who may wish to temporarily reside in Desa Kirana locations equipped with amenities suited for a flexible, digital lifestyle. "It also aims to uplift the socio-economic status of rural communities through integrated and holistic implementation involving collaboration with local communities, government agencies and the private sector. "The initiative supports efforts to bridge development and economic gaps between urban and rural areas, curb youth migration to cities, and showcase the unique identity of Malaysia's villages to a global audience." He said the programme will enable rural communities to generate income through niche tourism products available in their respective areas. "Desa Kirana@KKDW will focus on five key tourism elements: heritage and culture, natural attractions, gastronomy, traditional products, and activities. "Its implementation will be supported through training and capacity-building where needed, the utilisation of existing facilities such as the Village Community Centres (PKD) and Nadi, as well as the activation of digital platforms like Desamall and others for promotion and bookings."
The Sun
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
KKDW sets up committee to oversee Sarawak rural projects
BETONG: The Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) has established a Project Monitoring and Coordination Committee chaired by Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Rubiah Wang to ensure the smooth implementation of rural development projects in Sarawak. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the committee was established after his ministry found that there were delays and technical issues affecting the implementation of several projects, including problems related to land status. 'The establishment of this committee was the result of the decision of the KKDW meeting itself when we found that several projects were facing implementation problems, especially in terms of ownership or land status that had not been resolved,' he said. He told the media after officiating the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the road from Kampung Kupang to Simpang Jalan Bajau in Rumah Rengan, Saratok today. He said coordination between federal and state agencies was very important to speed up the implementation of the projects, especially those involving allocations of less than RM50 million. 'As decided by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, projects worth less than RM50 million will be handed over to the state government for implementation. 'This requires close coordination and we at KKDW will continue to provide full support to the state government in its implementation,' he explained. Ahmad Zahid also stated that under the committee, the scope of work for projects being implemented in Sarawak which currently cannot be changed due to several constraints will be done under the 13th Malaysia Plan. 'Currently, this is under the responsibility of the state government and although we have several constraints to change the scope, it is not impossible in the 13th Malaysia Plan if we can discuss in detail the joint implementation between the state government and the federal government,' he explained. Reviewing the infrastructure development in Sarawak, he praised the state government's initiative in building coastal roads which not only connect the route to the Pan Borneo Highway but also play an important role in connecting longhouses and traditional villages. One of the areas of responsibility for this coordination committee is to build a road connecting longhouses and traditional villages so that we do not face what is called denial syndrome by various parties, but it is better for the benefit of the people to do this coordination,' he added. 'This is also part of the KKDW's responsibility for and this is the main role of this coordination committee, which is to prevent the existence of 'denial syndrome' among stakeholders,' he said. He added that effective coordination will ensure that the planned development truly benefits the people, especially in the interior areas. Meanwhile, the construction of the road involves upgrading the existing main road connecting Kampung Kupang and Simpang Jalan Bajau, from a gravel road to a paved road according to the JKRR2 Standard, with an estimated length of 16.9 kilometres. It also involves upgrading the existing connecting road to the JKRR1 standard leading to the school and longhouse, namely: Jalan Cabang 1 to SK Sungai Entebu, 86 metres long, Jalan Cabang 2 to Rumah Anau, 86 metres long 100 metres, Jalan Cabang 3 to Rumah Lakon, 1,175 metres long, Jalan Cabang 4 to Rumah Rabiah, 1,646 metres long, construction of five reinforced concrete bridges, drainage systems, culverts, road pavement and shoulder as well as installation of road signs and road fixtures. The project, which began in January at a cost of RM112.9 million, is expected to be completed in Sept, 2027.
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Govt sets up committee to fast-track rural development projects in Sarawak
BETONG: The Rural and Regional Development Ministry has set up a Project Monitoring and Coordination Committee, chaired by its Deputy Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang, to ensure smoother implementation of rural development projects in Sarawak. Deputy Prime Minister and Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the committee was formed after the ministry identified delays and technical issues affecting several projects, including problems related to land status. "The establishment of this committee was the result of a ministry-level decision, following the discovery that several projects were facing implementation challenges, particularly involving unresolved land ownership or status issues," he said. He was speaking to the media after officiating the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a road from Kampung Kupang to Simpang Jalan Bajau in Rumah Rengan, Saratok, today. He said coordination between federal and state agencies was crucial to expedite the implementation of projects, especially those involving allocations of less than RM50 million. "As decided by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, projects worth less than RM50 million will be handed over to the state government for implementation. "This requires close coordination and we at the ministry will continue to provide full support to the state government in its implementation," he said. Under the committee, Zahid said the scope of work for projects being implemented in Sarawak which currently cannot be changed due to several constraints will be done under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP). "Currently, this is under the responsibility of the state government and although we have several constraints to change the scope, it is not impossible in the 13MP if we can discuss in detail the joint implementation between the state government and the federal government," he said. Reviewing the infrastructure development in Sarawak, he praised the state government's initiative in building coastal roads which not only connect the route to the Pan Borneo Highway but also play an important role in connecting longhouses and traditional villages. One of the areas of responsibility for this coordination committee is to build a road connecting longhouses and traditional villages so that we do not face what is called denial syndrome by various parties, but it is better for the benefit of the people to do this coordination," he added. "This is also part of the ministry's responsibility and this is the main role of this coordination committee, which is to prevent the existence of 'denial syndrome' among stakeholders," he said. He added that effective coordination will ensure that the planned development truly benefits the people, especially in the interior areas. Meanwhile, the construction of the road involves upgrading the existing main road connecting Kampung Kupang and Simpang Jalan Bajau, from a gravel road to a paved road according to the JKRR2 Standard, with an estimated length of 16.9 kilometres. It also involves upgrading the existing connecting road to the JKRR1 standard leading to the school and longhouse, namely: Jalan Cabang 1 to SK Sungai Entebu, 86 metres long, Jalan Cabang 2 to Rumah Anau, 86 metres long 100 metres, Jalan Cabang 3 to Rumah Lakon, 1,175 metres long, Jalan Cabang 4 to Rumah Rabiah, 1,646 metres long, construction of five reinforced concrete bridges, drainage systems, culverts, road pavement and shoulder as well as installation of road signs and road fixtures. The project, which began in January for RM112.9 million, is expected to be completed in September 2027.
