REDUCES URBAN POVERTY

lift the country’s hardcore and urban poor.

“Jaffar was able to upgrade his stall’s canopy, display racks and other equipment needed to run his business, such as a sugar cane juice machine and a cash register,” it read.

T h e re p o r t s a i d t h e p rogramme recorded significant success in turning the livelihoods of participants around by helping them develop and expand their businesses.

The programme conducted community-based activities, such as rock melon farming for Madra sah Tahfiz Anak Yatim/Miskin Raudhatul Baiduri.

“The project has allowed the madrasah to earn extra income through six cycles of harvesting since July 2015, generating earnings of RM39,000.”

The report said the country’s poverty level declined to 0.6 per cent in 2014 from 3.8 per cent in 2009.

Last year, RM66.71 million was allocated to agencies involved in delivering the National Key Results Area for Low-Income Households, which focused on the continuation of the 1AZAM (Akhiri Zaman Miskin).

It also emphasised on Beyond 1AZAM programmes and the delivery of economic empowerment projects to vulnerable groups via digital means.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said in the report that the 1AZAM programme covered seven areas: AZAM Tani, AZAM Niaga, AZAM Kerja, AZAM Khidmat, AZAM Bandar and the autonomouslyoperated AZAM Sabah and 1AZAM Sarawak.

“Last year, 7,016 new participants joined 1AZAM. 7,758 increased their income above RM300 (more than 90 per cent of their previous individual income).

“Meanwhile, 1,719 participants in Beyond 1AZAM increased their income by at least 50 per cent,” she said.

Participants were provided assistance according to their skills and capabilities and also access to jobs or chances to prove their entrepreneurial skills.

Successful participants were given the chance to join the Beyond 1AZAM programme, which provided advanced training, coaching and mentoring.

These programmes aimed to increase participants’ income from their projects by 50 per cent for at least three months and lead them to set up their own small- and medium-scale enterprises.