By Siti Rohaizah Zainal
KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 — The Inisiatif Pendapatan Rakyat (IPR) will provide opportunities for hardcore poor households and low-income groups (B40) to increase their livelihoods and break free from the cycle of poverty.
Menteri Besar cum Gombak MP Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said for the time being, the priority and interest are focused on efforts to take care of the groups in question, so they do not become further impoverished and end up as B70.
“Under the Economy Ministry, there is an IPR initiative that not only provides the people with something but is also an opportunity for them to increase their incomes, in terms of agriculture, facility maintenance programmes and small traders.
“This ought to be supported by all and given proper attention, as we believe a Unity Government can solve all problems instead of continuous arguments and differences that bring no benefits whatsoever,” he said when discussing the Supply (Budget) Bill 2023 in Parliament yesterday.
Meanwhile, Amirudin said Malaysia’s position must be restored from its roots upwards, which are the people, by resolving their employment and income.
“The nation will soon enter 2030, leaving us with just over three decades for Malaysia to reach its centennial. Looking at others, some countries like Singapore which were formerly our competitors have now left us far behind, while others who were once weaker than us with a lower quality of life have also passed us by.
“They have passed us, at least in terms of economic achievement and perception. One example is Vietnam, which has gained attention for its active and more attractive manufacturing sector, and Indonesia which has hosted the G20 group of developed countries as well as several projects such as constructing their new capital Nusantara (in Kalimantan).
“Unless Malaysia’s position is not restored via its important roots, which are the people, by addressing employment and income, I am worried these differences (with neighbouring countries) will cause us to sink,” he said.
Previously, Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli introduced three templates under IPR to create a sustainable ecosystem for the hardcore poor and B40 households, to escape the poverty cycle.
He said the templates include Inisiatif Usahawan Tani (Intan), the Inisiatif Usahawan Makanan (Insan), and Inisiatif Operator Perkhidmatan (Ikhsan), with a target of 100,000 beneficiaries under IPR.
“Approximately 126,372 hardcore poor households are registered in e-Kasih at the present, in addition to 2.91 million households under the B40 category,” Rafizi said when officiating IPR’s launch at the Cempaka LRT station in Ampang Jaya on Sunday (February 26).
