KEMAS Convention Must Produce Clear, Practical And Measurable Policy Framework - Ahmad Zahid

MELAKA, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- The 2026 KEMAS Community Advancement Convention must produce a clear, practical, and measurable Community Advancement Policy Framework to ensure that every development initiative delivers a real impact on the people.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said outcomes of discussions across seven main clusters, combined with the findings of the Policy Lab, must be translated into a policy framework that sets clear priorities, targets, and implementation actions.

He said this effort is vital to ensure that the convention does not end up merely as a forum for discussion, but instead serves as the foundation for more effective implementation of community development policies.

"Combine the findings of all seven main clusters - among them Early Childhood Education and Holistic Child Development, Skills Education, Economy and Social Mobility, as well as Data, Digitalisation, and the KEMAS Delivery Ecosystem - into a single policy framework that establishes priorities, targets, and measurable actions.

"This is to ensure it has clear follow-ups with defined implementation responsibilities and a structured monitoring mechanism," he said.

Speaking when officiating the 2026 KEMAS Community Advancement Convention at Jalan Bendahara here today - which was also attended by Community Development Department (KEMAS) Director-General Datuk Mohd Hanafiah Man - he noted that the policy formulation process must also incorporate views from various parties, including KEMAS grassroots agents, community leaders, academics, the private sector, and the public to ensure that policies are formed based on the reality of community life.

"Broaden engagement. Do not formulate policies based on assumptions, and this requires us to listen to many views because a good policy must be anchored in the reality of community life.

"The yardstick for the success of community development programmes must also shift from merely counting the number of programmes, participants, or allocations spent to assessing the actual changes felt by the people. Measure real change," he said.

He added that this approach is crucial to ensure that the implementation of community development programs genuinely raises living standards, strengthens family well-being, and builds a more self-reliant community.

Ahmad Zahid said the convention's results must also be followed up with a clear action plan, a distribution of implementation responsibilities, and a structured monitoring mechanism.

"Do not let resolutions remain just on paper. Turn them into policies, drive action, and prove the results to the people," he said and reminded that community development must be viewed as a long-term investment in the strength of the nation and country, and therefore KEMAS must continue to be at the forefront of change and act as a change agent, rather than merely a program implementer.

He noted that steps taken must be more structured and rooted in on-the-ground realities, given that certain issues are only understood by those who live and grow within the community itself.

"That is why I want community leadership, including the Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK), to be empowered. They are not merely activity organisers or transmitters of government information, but must be the eyes, ears, and voice of the people in identifying problems, determining priorities, and proposing solutions.

"This is where KEMAS must play its role as a bridge between government policies and the reality of the people's lives," he said.

Earlier, the three-day 2026 KEMAS Community Advancement Convention, which concluded today, brought together KEMAS management and personnel, government ministries and agencies, academic institutions, non-governmental organisation experts, industry and the private sector, as well as community leaders.

-- BERNAMA