AIM helps many families to escape poverty — DPM

SUNGAI BESAR: Efforts undertaken by the Barisan Nasional ( BN) government via Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) has helped many families to escape poverty and also gained international recognition.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said AIM had provided microcredit financing to the poor for economic activities and developed entrepreneurship, thus contributed to the economy.

“World bodies whose role is to monitor organisations providing micro- credit facilities have given recognition to AIM via the 3G Women’s Empowerment Award (Global Good Governance Award) by Cambridge IF Analytica,” he said at a gathering of Friends Of Sungai Besar AIM here, yesterday.

Also present were Selangor BN chairman Tan Sri Noh Omar and the BN candidate for Sungai Besar parliamentary by- election, Budiman Mohd Zohdi.

The AIM was established 29 years ago.

Ahmad Zahid expressed his satisfaction with the loan repayment by borrowers of the micro-credit scheme of whom 98.7 percent were women.

“Had the government given AIM loans to the men, I am sure that they too will pay just like the women,” he said to loud applause from 1,500 Friends of AIM.

He said BN government was committed to help the people of Sungai Besar.

“We choose Budiman to continue the good work of the late Tan Sri Noriah Kasnon. I am sure that he is capable of representing the people in this area.”

Noriah, the former deputy minister of plantation industries and commodities, was killed in a helicopter crash in Sebuyau Sarawak, on May 5.

At the same event, Ahmad Zahid announced a RM100,000 allocation to the Sungai Besar Entrepreneurs and Volunteerism Club, which was launched yesterday. — Bernama