State gets RM40 million for 1Azam Programme

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Fatimah explaining the impact of 1Azam Programme that justify its continuation in the state.

Fatimah explaining the impact of 1Azam Programme that justify its continuation in the state.

KUCHING: The federal government has approved an allocation of RM40 million for the 1Azam Programme in Sarawak this year.

Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said it was a welcomed move as it would enable her ministry and implementing agencies to continue helping the poor and hardcore poor.

“We pushed for the matter during our Putrajaya Inquisition meeting with the Prime Minister on April 7 as earlier this year we were told there was no allocation for the programme.

“We managed to convince the prime minister, who said RM20 million will be channelled immediately while the remaining RM20 million will be given after the state election,” she told a press conference at her office yesterday.

Fatimah pointed out the many reasons why Sarawak still needed this programme, which is an entrepreneurial business-matching programme that helps low-income households in improving their economic standing and standard of living.

“There was a total of 39,862 household heads given the 1Azam economic assistance under the 10th Malaysia Plan between 2011 and 2015. This was more than the targeted 38,400. Every year, we were given a target, and we exceeded the number.

“We can also see the impacts from the programme as 8,212 out of 39,862 are now out of the poverty bracket. Further, we found that 8,550 household heads out of the 39,862 have increased their income by a minimum of RM300 in any three months after given the assistance.”

Fatimah noted there was an impact on the local community, with the programme serving as a stepping stone to more diversified businesses.

“Despite the success so far, there are still many who need our help. As of April 6 this year, there are 31,637 eligible poor and hardcore poor out of 111,408 registered in the e-Kasih system who have not received any economic assistance. This is a big number, and we will continue to help them through the 1Azam programme.” This year, the ministry is targeting to involve 5,000 participants in the 1Azam Programme, out of the eligible 31,637.

Also present at the press conference were Federal Development Office Sarawak deputy director-general Masnah Abang Abu Bakar and the ministry’s assistant secretary Stenlee Kunchet.