Assessing the Challenges of Local Leaders in Rural Community Development: A Qualitative Study in Malaysia

Abstract

In Malaysia, the ongoing reform at the local government level continues to shape the role of local leaders in rural development. This study aims to identify several challenges faced by rural community leaders and to suggest some ways in which rural leaders can weather and benefit from them. This qualitative study, which used content analysis, employed purposive sampling to firstly select the interviewee, and then was sustained throughout until data saturation. The respondents were from a 60-member cohort from Malaysia’s Villages Development and Safety Committee who held the positions of chairpersons and ordinary members. For data collection and analysis, this study used semi-structured interviews and an inductive approach respectively. The data analysis led to the development of eight main themes of “difficulty in decision making”, “strengthening external network”, “disseminating the precise information”, “Comprehensive participation of the community members”, “preparing an efficient work plan”, “overlapping functions of government agencies”, “political control”, and “the lack of facilities and infrastructure”. Identifying these challenges for rural community leaders will help the local government take proactive action on community leadership in terms of social capital, networking, communication, trust creation, and leadership qualities. Going forward, the government should place serious attention to developing the potential and skills of local leaders as a reward for their profound commitment to developing their community.

Knowledge Management, Leadership, and Social Capital: Community Leadership and Sustainable Development in Terengganu, Malaysia

“…In the broader context of national development, the second rural development plan, devised in 1962, underscored the importance of active rural resident participation in governmental initiatives. The Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK) emerged as the principal avenue for involving individuals in the conception, execution, and oversight of development projects specifically tailored to their needs (Rami et al, 2021). The JPKK assumes a pivotal role in steering overall village growth and serves as a crucial intermediary among diverse social institutions (Daskalopoulou, 2018).…”

Responsible Tourism Management and Community Orientation

“…They organize community gatherings to bring community members close together, address community issues like debt, and develop strategies and solutions for the village's development. The role of community leaders in interacting with their community members is thus meaningful as well as impactful (Rami et al, 2021), as they are excellent connecting bridges to disseminate government messages and ensure that messages reach the grassroot level. In this manner, community leaders constitute a form of social capital.…”

“…For example, the former may approach the latter by going to their houses and spending time communicating with the community members. They may even sacrifice their free time in the evenings or weekends to listen to the elders and other members (Rami et al, 2021). Mayaka et al (2018) opined that in contrast to elders in Western countries, the unique characteristic of community elders in Asian countries is that they are enthusiastic about participating in tourism activities.…”

Characteristics and Success Factors of Rural Community Leadership in Malaysia: A Focus Group Analysis

“…Also, JPKK works towards sustaining a stable safe ecosystem and protecting itself from social threats. In terms of membership, JPKK is chaired by the village headman, elected village leaders, and representatives of organisations in the village (Rami et al, 2021). However, village leaders share a similar reputation with district officers because both are the intended beneficiaries of development policies, especially when the former are political appointees.…”