MELAKA, Melaka will introduce the 'Wakil Rakyat Untuk Rakyat' programme starting next year in an effort to bring the state government's administration closer to the grassroots. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said that through this programme, the State Executive Council Meetings will be held alternately at Seri Negeri and the 28 offices of the Committee for Development and Coordination of State Legislative Assembly (Japerun). "The schedule for the relevant State Legislative Assembly (DUN) areas is being arranged, involving different parliamentary areas every two weeks to facilitate logistics and the readiness of the departments and agencies involved. "This programme aims to assist the people in each DUN area in resolving various issues, whether related to land affairs, infrastructure needs and more, thereby making the state government's administration more people-centric," he said at a press conference after the Melaka State Legislative Assembly at Seri Negeri here today. Elaborating further, Ab R auf said that after these meetings, a 'Meet the People Day' will be held in the involved areas, managed by the Exco according to their respective portfolios, including the chief minister. "For example, in sports or agriculture portfolios, the Exco, along with the departments and agencies, need to gather the involved villages in the DUN area to resolve all arising issues. "The same goes for the Chief Minister, who also has his own portfolio to assist the people in a particular area, which is why this programme is called 'Wakil Rakyat Untuk Rakyat'," he said. In a separate development, Ab Rauf stated that Melaka Sentral will be redeveloped in collaboration with a private company, involving a cost of RM130 million starting at the end of this year. "God willing, construction work will begin at the end of this year, and the agreement is being finalised. God willing, the agreement will be completed in its technical and commercial forms by the end of August or early September. "This redevelopment will include a new terminal, business areas, a hotel, condominiums and more," he said. Source: BERNAMA News Agency