Mega firms asked to fund TVET, programmes for the poor: PM

KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (Tambun-PH) has revealed that 60 mega companies, including multinational corporations (MNCs), have been asked to assist in initiatives to help the poor. 

Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat today, the prime minister said that his administration has taken steps to ask high-earning companies for direct aid in projects aimed at assisting the people, citing improvements in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) as an example. 

“For now, there are 60 major companies including MNCs that have been asked, for example, to finance TVET maintenance works with company costs. 

“The idea is to get direct assistance from high-earning companies, whether with projects to aid poor citizens or more specific programmes such as TVET,” he said, noting that some of the companies involved in the initiative include Sunway Bhd and Berjaya Corporation Bhd.

He added that the Albukhary Foundation, under businessman and philanthropist Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary, has also offered to handle funding matters in a TVET institute in Pekan, Pahang. 

Anwar, who is also Pakatan Harapan chairman, was responding to an additional question by Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (Kubang Kerian-PN) on whether companies besides Syed Mokhtar’s Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas), will be sharing part of their profits with producers. 

Previously, Tuan Ibrahim, who is also former environment and water minister, singled out Top Glove Corporation Bhd, urging the company to give back to low-income rubber tappers. 

Anwar’s revised Budget 2023 featured Bernas’ agreement to share 30% of its net profits from imports with padi farmers. 

On December 5 last year, Anwar had pledged RM60 million in assistance to padi farmers nationwide as part of initial measures to dismantle Bernas’ long-standing monopoly of the rice industry.

He had also assured that his government would no longer allow the monopolisation of the industry by certain figures who prey on small-time players. – The Vibes, March 21, 2023