TAPAH – A total of 459 Orang Asli household heads across the country are being assisted through the first phase of the Keluarga Malaysia Hardcore Poverty Eradication Programme (BMTKM), which started in June this year.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said that out of the number, 90 comprised Orang Asli communities in the Batang Padang and Hulu Perak districts.
“The Economic Planning Unit and Implementation Coordination Unit under the Prime Minister’s Department are responsible for coordinating and easing the BMTKM implementation.
“Meanwhile, the respective regional economic corridor development authorities, state economic development corporations, and federal authorities were given the mandate as the responsible agencies in managing the channelling of allocations and procurements under the programme.”
Mustapa said this at a press conference after a working visit to the Orang Asli Pilot Development Project at Lata Kinjang, here, today.
The BMTKM programme is being implemented in stages as a government initiative in eradicating hardcore poverty among families under the 12th Malaysia Plan (2021-2025).
Until now, this programme has benefited 1,536 households with an allocation of RM17.2 million involving motivational, entrepreneurial, and specific training programmes, among others.
On another development, Mustapa said over RM5.6 million had been allocated to the relevant parties to ensure that the development projects at Lata Kinjang could raise the standard of living of the Orang Asli around the area.
“This development project is not only targeted at providing facilities but it also involves human capital development and offering opportunities and spaces for the Orang Asli community here to generate income.
“For example, the human capital development project under the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority at Lata Kinjang involves all the 94 Orang Asli in the vicinity, with 31 participants under the Kasih Ibu Darul Ridzuan, 50 under the JomNiaga and another 13 under the Skills and Entrepreneurial Training programmes respectively,” he added. – Bernama, October 2, 2022
