THE Rural and Regional Development Ministry has introduced the Komuniti Sejahtera Programme (PKS) with a profit sharing concept to help rural communities generate income.

The ministry’s secretary-general Ramlan Harun said the pilot project of the programme had been implemented in Baling, with the Kedah Regional Development Authority (Keda) appointed as the implementing agency while a company was selected as the operating agency.

“A restaurant called D’Sara Fried Chicken in Baling has been appointed as the operating agency with an allocation of RM300,000. The total number of beneficiaries for this project is 30 people from all over the state.

“The beneficiaries are made up of various target groups consisting of hardcore poor, poor and low-income (B40), who will receive dividends from the restaurant’s profits for a period of two years,” he said in his speech when officiating at the D’Sara Fried Chicken Restaurant PKS and the presentation of Keda economic project assistance in Baling today.

He said the programme aims to increase the income of poor and low-income families, thereby bringing them out of poverty.

Ramlan added that the pilot project at the restaurant started early last year before it began operating in November.

“The commitment for this programme is for two years, where capital of RM10,000 to each beneficiary will generate a return of RM12,000. The excess return is the profit-sharing agreement signed with the appointed operating agency,” he said.

As such, he hoped the selected recipients would use the assistance as best as possible and work harder so that their income could be increased.

Ramlan said seven out of 30 Keda development projects this year are geared towards rural economic development involving an allocation of RM30 million.

Also present at the event were Kedah deputy state secretary (management) Syed Khairol Anuar Syed Abidin and Keda general manager Kamarudin Abd Akib. – Bernama, May 9, 2023.