Parents urged to get information on incentives for children

KOTA KINABALU: Parents are urged to be more proactive in obtaining information on the various incentives and programs provided by the government which can benefit their children.

Assistant Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady bin Bandy revealed that in the district of Penampang, only 108 youths had applied for the Sabah Youth Entrepreneur Jaya Scheme (SYABAS) assistance, which received an RM10 million allocation for Sabah this year.

SYABAS is an initiative announced by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor in October this year to help the youths venture into the business field. It is split into two categories: RM2,000 assistance for those who just started their business and RM5,000 for those who are wishing to expand their business.

“According to my ministry’s records, 108 youths from Penampang have applied for this initiative. Ninety-one of them applied for the RM2,000 assistance, while the other 17 applied for the RM5,000 assistance. So far, only those who applied for the RM2,000 assistance have received their incentive.

“We are not denying the possibility of necessary information on such programs not reaching the youths here. Hence, we will multiply our efforts in reaching out and providing them information on our various programs available, either through more promotion or even advertisements.

“We try to spread information on the programs offered through social media or brochures. Besides that, we also provide information through the ministry.

“However, I also hope that parents of youths here can be more proactive in seeking such information,” he said.

Andi was replying to a question by Kepayan assemblywoman Jannie Lasimbang who inquired on the assistance and allocation provided by the government to help youths in Penampang find jobs, during the State Assembly sitting here on Wednesday.

Andi explained that his ministry has been implementing short-term and long-term programs to provide training and courses on entrepreneurship, leadership and skills to boost the social and economic development of youth here.

“We are currently collecting data on the youth so that we can do a thorough study to ensure that a strategic plan for the development of youth in Sabah for the next five years can be prepared,” he added.