Nation successful at helping poor
> Starting with his father’s policies, Najib says govt initiatives have changed lives
PEKAN: Malaysia is recognised as the most successful nation in helping the poor and low-income groups through various government policies, said caretaker Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
He said the policies were consistently implemented since the administration of second prime minister Tun Razak Hussein, who was his father, with the creation of Felda.
This was followed by the setting up of various agencies such as Felcra, Mara, Tekun Nasional, and Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) in 1987 which were among the channels for these groups to change their lives.
“As a government, I uphold the principles and philosophy which represented the continuity of my father’s struggles which mooted the New Economic Policy as the prime mover for rural development.
“In his struggles, among those that drew much attention was how to change and assist the villagers and the poor. This cannot be denied when the position of the poor, particularly those in the rural areas, began to change.
“As his son, I certainly want to see that the platform that had been initiated continues till all that my late father had dreamed of, and became his inspiration and ambition, becomes a reality,” he said.
He said this when officiating the Assembly of the Usahawan AIM Malaysia at the Pekan parliamentary constituency level, yesterday.
Also present were Pekan Umno division deputy head Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Harun and AIM executive chairman Datuk Dr Zubir Harun.
Najib said as a result of the aid and credit provided by AIM since its formation, a total of 726,891 borrowers had received the benefits involving a total credit of RM19.2 billion.
“The national poverty rate had in terms of absolute figure dropped to zero while the relative poverty rate dropped 3.8% in 2009 to 0.4% in 2016,” he added.
“Meanwhile, the rate of monthly household income for the group B40 had risen from RM1,400 to RM2,848 during the corresponding period.
“The credit provided is likened to a baby who is just learning to walk, then actually walking and running, similarly we have the basic loan as provided by AIM, then by Mara, Tekun and SME Bank to expand the business.
“Imagine if there is no such assistance, how do they want to start a business? They will probably become victims of illegal lenders,” he said. – Bernama