KUALA KANGSAR: The implementation of the Sejahtera Komuniti Madani (SejaTi Madani) program to empower the community through socioeconomic improvement activities will involve all villages nationwide, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Prime Minister said that although the program cannot be implemented simultaneously, it is up to the responsible parties to improve the village economy.

“(Through) SejaTi Madani, we give direct responsibility and challenge the villages to do this, where each will receive an allocation of between 50,000 and 100,000 lei.

“The imam, the village chief, the penghulu, the youth association, the popular women and the mosque committee, you get together and have a proper discussion.

“I will give you the funds, you decide what to do with them that benefits the villagers. You can buy tractors or boats, but the decision is not one person’s (but) every representative of the village community,” he said at an event with the Padang Rengas community at the Dataran Arena Pekan Isnin Square here yesterday, Bernama reported. .

Anwar, who is also the finance minister, advised the village community to make the best decision to ensure the success of the programme, adding that RM1bil had been allocated to the initiative in Budget 2025.

SejaTi Madani aims to stimulate economic activities at the community level to increase income.

While tabling the budget on October 18, Anwar also announced that RM100 million will be used to empower communities under the National People’s Housing Program through various socioeconomic programs.

The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction with the large allocation for the SejaTi Madani program as it will go directly to the village community for program implementation, which will be monitored by the Implementation Coordination Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department as well as district officers.

In another development, the Prime Minister said that over 15,000 of the 18,000 heads of households in the extreme poverty category have broken out of the vicious circle of poverty, with the rest to be resolved before the end of the year.

The problem of extreme poverty involving 161,000 household heads was solved last year through various assistance channeled by the government, he said.

Meanwhile, Anwar, who is also Pakatan Harapan chairman, advised leaders of all political parties and the government to work hard to uplift the dignity of the people and the country, putting aside their differences.

“My advice is, if we’re going to do it, do it now (and) when we have the power; do it well, clean up, uplift the dignity of the people and bring change… that is the test (while in power),” he said.

Earlier, the Prime Minister approved an allocation of RM1.3 million for a project to build a 3km cement-based property road in Kawasan Blok C Pendusunan Ulu Kongsor, Padang Rengas here.