KUALA LUMPUR: The Economy Ministry has received 128,124 applications under the People’s Income Initiative (IPR) programme as of Oct 5, 2023 with 47,909 individuals in the low-income category eligible for three IPR pilot initiatives.
According to the ministry, the three pilot initiatives, namely the Farmer’s Initiative (INTAN), the Food Entrepreneurs’ Initiative (INSAN) and the Service Operators Initiative (IKHSAN) have been identified to help overcome major issues such as food security, job opportunities and the high cost of living.
“The implementation of the IPR has received encouraging response via applications recorded through the IPR website (www.ipr.ekonomi.gov.my).
“The list of applicants will be cross-checked with eKasih, iDamak and Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) to ensure that the programme’s implementation benefits the target groups, these being the hardcore poor, the poor and the B40,” according to the ministry published on the Parliament’s website on Tuesday.
The Economy Ministry was responding to Dr Richard Rapu @Aman Anak Begri’s question (GPS-Betong) on the extent the IPR can contribute to raise B40 income and how many recipients of projects and funds have been approved for Sarawak this year.
According to the ministry, 1,020 participants received approval to implement the INTAN initiative in 16 locations covering 818 acres, involving a total cost of RM92,552,738 with a focus on crops such as chili and corn while reducing dependence on imported raw materials.
The Economy Ministry said it is ready to provide assistance in the form of input and modern agricultural equipment, training and technical advisory services as well as subsistence allowances in collaboration with the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry.
Under the INSAN initiative, the government provides a rental grant for vending machines for two years. As of Oct 5, 2023, 81 participants benefitted from the programme, achieving an average daily sales of between RM150 and RM400.
The government also took steps to introduce IKHSAN as a measure to reduce dependence on service provider companies and foreign workers in the 3D sector, labelled as dirty, dangerous and difficult.
Through this initiative, the Economy Ministry will work with all state governments and the local authorities to create job opportunities with a salary for cleaning work in public premises as well as acting as facilitators in staff appointments and equipment supply with an additional maximum allowance of RM850.
“A total of 1,032 participants have been approved for this programme’s implementation at a total cost of RM14,179,320.00,” he said.
According to the ministry, eradicating hardcore poor with targeted programmes either individually, in a community or hybrid manner is being continued based on heads of households profile.
The proposed programme includes income generation activities, technical skill, and job opportunities to enable the heads of households to generate a sustainable income.
To date, the ministry said a total of 1,744 heads of households among the hardcore poor have been approved projects, with a RM24.7 million allocation being spent to implement them nationwide.
Meanwhile, the ministry said that until Sept 30, 2023, a total of 110,663 hardcore poor heads of households were recorded in the eKasih system, with 23,728 recorded in Sarawak.
The implementation of IPR-BMT (Basmi Miskin Tegar) in Sarawak also benefited 211 heads of hardcore poor households, with a total allocation of about RM2.8 million.
Specifically in Sarawak, the government has allocated development projects for Rolling Plan 3 at a cost of around RM5 billion which includes the construction and upgrading of school development, infrastructure such as roads, bridges, clean water supply and electricity, as well as medicine and health. – BERNAMA
