KUALA LUMPUR: To increase income and raise the living standard of the rakyat, the government continues to provide resources for eradicating hardcore and urban poverty, assisting the poor and vulnerable groups, increasing home ownership, expanding public health facilities and enhancing the social safety net.
ALL HERE: Najib holds the 2010/2011 Economic Report. — Bernama photo
According to the 2010/2011 Economic Report released yesterday, to further alleviate hardcore poverty in rural areas, the government continued with a scheme which involved integrated land development for agriculture, and in addition, the e-Kasih database was continuously updated to identify and assist the poor.
The Gerakan 1Azam programme which consists of four components, namely Azam Tani, Azam Niaga, Azam Kerja and Azam Khidmat, are among the initiatives aimed at creating jobs through employment and entrepreneurship, in line with government efforts to tackle hardcore poverty.
In line with the target to reduce the poverty rate to 2.8 per cent by end-2010, intensified efforts have been made to enhance the earning capacity of the rural poor.
According to the report, the government has established a scheme to implement income-enhancing, skills training and capacity building programmes, as well as Program Kecemerlangan Pendidikan in benefiting the target groups.
Efforts were undertaken to provide affordable housing and restore dilapidated houses to benefit 1,368 households.
As of July this year, 3,255 women underwent skills training and entrepreneurship programme through the Department of Women’s Development and Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (Aim).
The federal territories and urban wellbeing ministry has launched a Strategic Plan for the period of 2010-2014, to address urban poverty in a holistic manner, including to assist households with monthly income of below RM3,000.
To support the urban poor venture into becoming small businesses, RM60.5 million was disbursed to 16,907 applicants under the Urban Micro Credit programme by Aim, during the first eight months of this year.
The report said that continuous efforts were undertaken to provide affordable housing to the rakyat, particularly those in the low and middle-income groups.
The government launched the Flexible Housing Withdrawal scheme that enables Employees Provident Fund contributors to utilise current and future savings in Account 2 to obtain higher financing.
The government also guaranteed bank loans for those without fixed income to encourage home ownership, as well as offering for sale to current tenants, by the Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur and National Housing Department.
In addition to increasing revenue, the government also focused on health aspects, in which the focus was on building and upgrading hospitals and clinics.
A total of 51 premises have also been modified to 1Malaysia clinics in selected urban areas in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor.
The government also remains committed to providing welfare assistance for the disabled, senior citizens and single mothers.
Furthermore, the monthly allowance for disabled children is increased from RM50 to RM150 for each child enrolled in special schools run by non-governmental organisations.
To provide investment opportunities and improve the income of the rakyat, the government issued a Sukuk 1Malaysia which guarantees a return of 5 per cent per annum to be paid quarterly and provides flexibility for subscribers to buy and sell before the maturity period.
To assist the self-employed and those with no fixed income, the government has introduced the 1Malaysia Retirement Scheme with a minimum contribution of RM50 to a maximum of RM5,000 per month.
Wakaf properties nationwide will be developed to benefit under-privileged Muslims through income generating as well as education and social welfare programmes.
To develop wakaf properties, a total of 69 areas with potential were identified for development as a Wakaf Mart and Bazar Wakaf Rakyat at selected mosques nationwide. — Bernama