JERLUN: The Kedah Pakatan Harapan (PH) government denied rumours that it is closing down Kemas kindergartens in the state.
In brushing off the allegations, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir assured that Kemas kindergartens and other federal government agencies which benefited the people would not closed.
The Jerlun member of Parliament also recognised that Kemas kindergartens had been instrumental in providing early childhood education, especially in rural areas.
"I do not know how the rumours that the new Pakatan Harapan government is closing down Kemas kindergartens, had surfaced.
"It is the biggest slander against the new government and I wish to stress that all federal agencies which are beneficial to the people will be retained although they were formed by the previous BN (Barisan Nasional) administration.
"Kemas had been instrumental to help the people especially the rural communities, so there is no reason to shut them down.
"It is just that we hope that there is no political elements in delivering their services to the people," he said.
He was speaking to reporters here after attending a feast to celebrate Pakatan Harapan (PH) victory in the constituency at Sungai Korok here today.
Mukhriz also said that his administration would continue to support Islamic religious schools and tahfiz schools in the state, a policy that he had initiated when being made the menteri besar for the first time in 2013.
On a separate matter, Mukhriz said the new state administration would review the role of village head and Village Development and Security Council (JKKK) in the state as promised during the 14th General Election (GE14) campaign.
He would hold a meeting on the matter soon to further improve the state government delivery system down to grassroot level.
Mukhriz adds that the village head or the JKKK committee were suppose to look after the welfare of the people in their community.
"However, we had received complaints alleging that the are some political elements and favouritism among the village heads or JKKK chiefs.
"If any villager or community member deserved to be looked after, they should be assisted regardless of his or her the political stand.
"We need to have relook and find ways to overhaul the existing delivery system at the village level.
"As such, we will make it compulsory for the village heads to convey the report to the penghulu, district and up to the state government level," he said.