The Sabah government will continue to work with the federal government in efforts to develop villages in Sabah.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman stressed the importance of maintaining a strong relationship between the state and federal governments, in particular, the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, to ensure infrastructures in Sabah's rural areas were developed.

Speaking at the launch of the Sabah Zone Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) Village Management Certificate programme as well as the presentation of Desa Perdana Award to winners from Sabah and the Federal Territory of Labuan on Monday, Musa stressed the importance of carrying out the JKKK Village Management Certificate programme for the grassroots leaders as it would enable them to manage their respective areas effectively and systematically.

He also described the certificate programme carried out by Institute Kemajuan Desa (Infra) and awarded by Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) as invaluable.

A total of 501 participants took part in the three-day programme between July 30 and August 1. The participants were from Papar, Labuan, Penampang, Tamparuli, Putatan, Tuaran, Kota Belud, Membakut and Kota Kinabalu.

Also present was Federal Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

During the course, the participants would acquire skills in village entrepreneurship, leadership, project monitoring, asset and accounts committee management, and project and village strategic planning.

Musa said it was the first time that such a programme was being carried out in Sabah.

He also reminded the participants who were members of their respective JKKKs to help provide a true picture concerning all the efforts undertaken by the Barisan Nasional (BN) government to help the people.

"Explain to the people all that have been undertaken by the government to help" he said.

Concerning the Desa Perdana Award, Musa said by carrying out the competition, villagers would be spurred to improve their respective villages.

Rural and Regional Development Minister Dato Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said a total of 582 villages competed at the district level, followed by 159 villages at the state level, and lastly, 23 villages would be competing at the national level which would be held on August 22 and launched by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at PWTC.

On July 31, Kampung Merampong in Keningau was selected as the champion at the state-level Desa Perdana Award, winning them RM12,000. The team will be representing Sabah in the final.

Meanwhile, Kampung Layang Layangan in Labuan was selected as the champion for Federal Territory, beating Kampung Sungai Miri which won the second prize and Kampung Lubok Temiang which came in third.

Hence, Kampung Layang Layangan will represent Labuan in the final.

There are three main objectives of the award and these comprise realising the rural transformation programmes by creating competitive, knowledgeable, independent, disciplined and initiative village communities; inculcate the 1Malaysia spirit, patriotism and pure traditional values at the grassroots level; and stimulate sustainably developed, attractive and profitable villages with high income by 2020.