BY SITI NURAIN RATANI
KOTA SAMARAHAN: A total of RM390,000 has been spent to help 110 participants of the Community Development Department (Kemas) Quick Win programme in Sarawak this year.
Minister of Rural Development Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said, the programme was part of the department’s Skills Education Programme for which more than RM13 million had been allocated.
“Financial constraints are often a major factor for most of the participants who take skills courses organised by the government and these people are still unable to start a business.
“Therefore, this initiative is very much in line with the needs and desires of the community to ensure they are able to be independent and generate income,” he said in a text of speech read by Deputy Minister of Rural Development Datuk Hasbi Habibollah at the presentation of Kemas Quick Win aid here on Saturday (Oct 23).
He said under the Quick Win programme, participants are given entrepreneurial courses and equipment to start their businesses.
“To follow the Kemas Quick Win course, the community development department in the district or state will identify those who meet the set criteria and are eligible for assistance.
“This will ensure that they can carry out activities to generate additional income for themselves and their families in line with the aspirations of the Malaysian Family,” he added.
Mahdzir said the programme, which was first implemented in 2017 has 16,293 participants.
“Almost 30 percent of Kemas Quick Win aid recipients have managed to increase their monthly income to more than RM1,000 a month.
“In Sarawak alone, from 2017 to this year, a total of 1,529 small rural entrepreneurs received assistance under the Quick Win programme worth RM2.3 million,” he said.
