KOTA MARUDU, July 10 (Bernama) -- Community leaders play an important role in ensuring the well-being of the people, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said tonight.

He said these leaders did not only have the responsibility of getting feedback on the people's grievances but also acted as the government's agents in disseminating information to the people, including on the significance of national unity.

Ongkili, who is also Kota Marudu MP, welcomed the Sepakat Smart Community Programme which was aimed at fostering national unity as well as meeting the aspirations of the 1Malaysia concept initiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

"I'm confident that a programme such as this, which brings together the leaders of smart communities and their members or the local people, will help maintain the good relations between leaders and the people.

"Thus, I urge leaders of smart communities to accept the views of their members if they are good for the community," he said when launching the Sepakat Smart Community Programme for Kota Marudu and Pitas at the Kota Marudu Community Hall, here.

The smart community programme was organised by the Sabah Information Department with the collaboration of various government departments and agencies, including the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama).

Ongkili said: "As leaders of an organisation or village chiefs, we must always listen to the voice of the people.

"This will help the government rectify any problem systematically, and when the people are taken care of they will continue to support the government to carry on with its development."

On development, Ongkili said the government would continue with its efforts to develop Kota Marudu so that the development was comparable to that in the other districts of the country, especially that related to poverty eradication.