Millions feel the impact of NTP, says Idris

PUTRAJAYA: Millions of Malaysians have felt the impact of the National Transformation Programme (NTP) since its inception in 2010.

The Prime Minister’s NTP adviser, Datuk Seri Idris Jala, cited several instances, including the seven million 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) recipients.

“When we removed (certain) subsidies, we wanted to give money so that they didn’t feel the burden of the rising cost of living. That is why BR1M was introduced. Seven million people received BR1M and they feel it (the impact of NTP).

He said 2.6 million jobs were created under NTP.

“Those who did not get the jobs, they will not feel it. Some people asked me why they did not feel the impact of NTP. My answer is because it (NTP) is a targeted (programme).”

Jala said the government had introduced the minimum wage policy for the low-income group.

“When the minimum wage (came into effect), we raised the incomes of 2.9 million people.

“Their salaries increased immediately and they feel it (the impact of NTP). If you were not (part of the 2.9 million affected workers), you would not have felt it.”

He said Malaysia had built 6,868km of rural roads under the transformation programme.

He said 3.7 million people had benefited from these roads.

He highlighted the 110,000 commuters who took the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) daily as another example of those who felt the impact of NTP.

He said NTP had received recognition from Princeton University and Harvard University, in the United States.

“The World Bank did a case study on NTP so that other countries can learn from Malaysia.

“As a result, Tanzania, Oman, India, Nigeria, Botswana and Russia have started to use our NTP approach.”

Asked what could be expected from the NTP 2017 Annual Report scheduled to be tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak next week, Jala said it would reveal good results.

Najib will announce the results on Friday.