‘Permata to be audited’

PUTRAJAYA: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has given the assurance that the new Pakatan Harapan government will keep the National Permata Programme for gifted children.

However, she said, the programme would need to be audited and reviewed before any further decisions were made.

“Permata is one of the things that I brought to the attention of the prime minister. We need to have it audited.

“Permata is a good programme (under Barisan Nasional) closely tied to children’s development, so what is good, we will continue,” she told a press conference after clocking in for her first day in office at Perdana Putra here yesterday.

Dr Wan Azizah, who is also women and family development minister, said the programme’s activities, funding and cost-effectiveness would be audited.

She said she also discussed with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad about moving the programme, currently under the Prime Minister’s Office, to the Women and Family Development Ministry, which was more suitable and relevant.

Permata is the brainchild of Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, the wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Permata is a good programme (under Barisan Nasional) closely tied to children’s development, so what is good, we will continue. DATUK SERI DR WAN AZIZAH WAN ISMAIL

Deputy prime minister