Nancy Shukri
KUALA LUMPUR: There was a spike in the number of individuals seeking assistance from Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK) last year, with 248,491 participating in the programme, as compared to 207,997 in 2012.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri said this showed that those with poor money management and bogged down with loans, were more receptive now on the importance of seeking assistance to solve their financial woes.
“It also shows that more people are now aware of the establishment of AKPK,” she told reporters after visiting the agency’s office here yesterday.
She said the government was going all out to create more awareness on the negative impact of bankruptcy, especially among the youths, to ensure reduction in bankruptcy cases nationwide.
Nancy said the young generation needed to be exposed to the impact of taking loans and the inability to repay, adding that those listed as bankrupts should seek help to find ways to sort out the problem.
She said the public should be aware that AKPK services were free of charge as there were cases of individuals impersonating as agents from AKPK and charging service fee.
On outgoing Sarawak Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, Nancy, who is also Batang Sadong member
of parliament, said she was confident that his successor would shoulder the responsibility well.
“We have been coached as one entity…as one family, and we should not talk on controversial issues like race and religion. That has been our training as politicans, especially at Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu,” she added. — Bernama