Govt will help Indian community: Palanivel

MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel is confident the government will continue with its programmes to improve the socio-economy of the Indian community.

He said the government has helped to change the lives of thousands of Indians and brought them into the mainstream of the country through several business and loan assistance.

"We hope that PM (Datuk Seri) Najib (Abdul Razak) will continue to reform and bring equal opportunities in employment and entry into universities and teachers training colleges, not only for Indians but for all communities," he said.

Palanivel noted that there should be greater economic and social development for every citizen.

Since 2009, Najib has allocated RM540 million to fund development of Tamil schools; RM150 million for microcredit schemes; RM50 million for Tekun loans; and has set aside 1,500 matriculation seats for Indian students who excel in Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia.

Foon Yew board praises Najib

JOHOR BARU: THE Foon Yew High School board praised  Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for giving  the approval for the board to build its second branch campus in Pasir Gudang.

This is like a feather in the cap for the Foon Yew chain of education institutions which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this August.

The institutions comprise SJKC Foon Yew 1 to 5, the Foon Yew High School (main campus and the Kulai campus), and the Southern University College (Southern UC), which collectively is known as the Foon Yew Educational Village.

This project which is a big step forward for the Chinese community, may not have materialised if not for the efforts by MCA and property developer UEM Land Holdings Bhd which has agreed to donate an 8ha piece of land to build the campus.

Foon Yew High School board chairman Tan Wee Hiong said Najib's announcement is timely as there is a surging demand for enrolment at the school.

He said the high demand showed the confidence of parents in what Foon Yew could offer to their children in terms of Chinese secondary education.

"Since the project has been approved, our next challenge now is to seek financial assistance from the Federal Government, Chinese clans and associations, non-governmental organisations, and the private sector.

Bersuara

When people talk about Government policies, they often talk about it in terms of big numbers and abstract concepts. What matters is what they mean on the ground to the rakyat who these policies affect. Have a look at these personal stories from around the country and hear what they have to say.

Puan Rita Hashim Speaks Out

As of today, BR1M has assisted more than 5.2 million households such as Puan Rita Hashim’s in reducing their cost of living. This initiative by the government serves as a stepping stone for the country to achieve high-income status by 2020. Your support is of utmost importance towards ensuring programmes such as BR1M can continue to benefit the rakyat.

 

Kadir’s Voice (SMC)

Kadir is one of the students given an opportunity to build a brighter future by the government through the various education assistance programmes provided. Embrace your right to vote to ensure that such opportunities can continue to benefit all Malaysians.

Tekun Provides The Lifeline For Indian Entrepreneurs

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) -- M.Jayaseelan had been working as a goldsmith at a Chinese company since 1989, and his dream of venturing on his own had been hindered because of the lack of capital.

Yet all that changed four months ago when he sought a loan from the National Entrepreneur Group Economic Fund (Tekun Nasional) to purchase new jewellery making tools and equipment to set off on his own.

"I saw an advertisement of the Special Secretariat for the Empowerment of Indian Entrepreneurs (SEED). I applied through the Indian Entrepreneur Development Scheme (SPUMI) and my loan was approved," said the proud owner of Kamalam Gems and Jewels to Bernama.

Jayaseelan, like the thousands of Indians in the country face an uphill task in starting or expanding business as the avenues to raise capital is extremely limited.

This is where Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak stepped in with funds RM180 million, dedicated to Indian traders and businessmen through various organisations.

The next mission is to improve perception of crime rate

Welcome aid: Ipoh Barat MCA division chairman Datuk Tan Chin Meng (left) handing out the BR1M 2.0 payment to 81-yearold Yong Yow Choy (centre) and his wife Wong Ah Keng, 75, at Glamour Square Shopping Centre in Bercham.

 

KUALA LUMPUR: Some 4.18 million households have benefited from the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) programme, which was started to help the people cope with the rising cost of living.

According to the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) Annual Report 2012, BR1M has helped more households in the country than initially targeted.

“The original target, based on the Statistics Department’s Household Income Survey 2009/10, was 3.4 million households,” said the report, adding that the actual number of recipients was more than 4.17 million households, which was 22.91% higher.

Under the BR1M programme, households earning RM3,000 and less a month are each given a one-off cash assistance of RM500.

This was further extended with a RM250 assistance covering single unmarried persons aged 21 and above and earning not more than RM2,000 a month.

Another initiative under the NKRA for rising cost of living is the 1Malaysia People’s Welfare Aid (KAR1SMA) cash assistance ranging from RM100 to RM450 to recipients who include senior citizens, the disabled, single mothers and widows of police and military personnel.

The report said some RM1.4bil in KAR1SMA aid was distributed last year.

The GTP also offers programmes providing basic needs at affordable costs, through the 1Malaysia Clinic and Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M). As of Dec 31 last year, 168 1Malaysia clinics provided medical care at a nominal fee of RM1. The target in 2013 is to establish 80 more such clinics.

Meanwhile, 59 KR1M stores were set up last year, offering essential goods at 30% to 40% lower than prices at conventional stores.

As for the second phase of KR1M, residents in rural areas will see its goods being distributed to “Mom and Pop” stores in various districts. The target for KR1M is to establish 50 stores every year until 2015.

(Source: The Star Online)

Huge crowd jostles for RM200 voucher forms

Unexpected turnout: A crowd gathering at the lobby of the Federal Building in Anson Road, George Town, to get the forms to apply for the RM200 vouchers.

 

GEORGE TOWN: A large crowd jostled for forms to apply for the RM200 one-off vouchers under 1Malaysia People’s Welfare Prog­ramme (Kar1sma) at the Federal Building in Anson Road here since 8am.

Security guards and officers had to use hailers to urge the public to queue up after noticing much shoving and pushing.

More than 100 motorbikes and cars were parked along the road, causing a 2km-long traffic jam.

State Women, Family and Community Development Depart­ment director Yusman Hambali Ahmad said they ran out of forms at about 2pm.

“We made extra copies of the forms and managed to distribute some 4,000 copies. But the photocopy machines broke down,” he said.

He said the forms would only be distributed for a day and it must be returned to the department by 11am today.
“We did not expect the huge crowd,” he said.

State leaders laud Najib’s BR1M announcement

KUCHING: Social Development Minister Tan Sri William Mawan has described Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as being visionary when the latter announced that the government would continue to give 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) in the coming years.

He said Najib would not consider his vision as fulfilled if the needs of people from all strata of society regardless of race, creed, religion and political affiliation are not taken care of.

To him, the announcement reflects the premier’s concern for the poor, needy, under-privileged and the ordinary people, which should not be construed as a political gimmick.

Mawan, who is also national BN vice-chairman, said this yesterday when countering a statement by State Pakatan Rakyat that Najib was desperate to win the coming general election by fishing for votes using BR1M 3.0 and BR1M 4.0.

“It is his (Najib’s) sustained concern that goes a long way to care for the poor, needy, under-privileged and the small men. He touches the hearts of millions.

Najib announces BR1M 3.0, 4.0 for the poor

SENAI: The rakyat can expect more financial assistance to the lower and middle income group in the form of the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) 3.0 and also 4.0.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced this during his speech at the state-level Chinese New Year celebration held at the Econsave supermarket grounds here today.

"Barisan Nasional (BN) as a government have always put the people first.

"We need to be inclusive not only to investors, but the people as well, he said.

Najib said the government has felt the pulse of the people, thus the BR1M is born to offer financial aid to the needy segments of society.

He said in order for the government to continue with such benefits, the people must give BN the mandate to form the next government.

Najib said a planned and sytematic change is what BN is doing for the benefit of the people.

"If we get a strong government, then we can go towards a brighter future for the country, he said.

Government introduces new funding under SPP1M scheme for tertiary level students

PUTRAJAYA: A special loan scheme for tertiary level students, offering funding of between RM100,000 and RM150,000 with an interest rate of BLR-1%, has been introduced.

The Skim Prihatin Pendidikan 1Malaysia (SPP1M) works as a top-up funding and is for students at local and overseas universities.

It is also open to those receiving the PTPTN loan, on government or private scholarships and self-financed students.

For a start, Maybank and RHB Bank have agreed to offer the facility with an initial allocation of RM1bil.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said that more banks were expected to join in and the scheme would ultimately have RM5bil to offer.

Najib: Govt looking at ways to provide more support for Chinese community Read more: Najib: Govt looking at ways to provide more support for Chinese community

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak said he was looking forward to seeing how much more the government could help support the Chinese community as there was much more work to do this year.

The Prime Minister said the Barisan National government recognised the importance of having open channels with the Chinese community to better understand their needs. 

 

"Through my Ah Jib Gor alone, we sifted through many suggestions which have formed part of the basis of Budget 2013.

 

"One area of real importance is education where we have allocated RM100 million to national-type Chinese schools – money which will help refurbish school buildings and buy new school equipment," he said in the message posted on his 1Malaysia.com.my blog. 

 

Through the National Education Blueprint, he said the government was also aiming to increase the number of Chinese language teachers in order to meet student demand. 

 

"And the top students of Chinese secondary schools have been given scholarship to ensure the most diligent minds can continue to serve our society once they have graduated," he said.

 

Thus, Najib said it was his hope that the Chinese community would continue to support the government towards this goal. 

March 15 deadline for BR1M 2.0 applications

PUTRAJAYA: Application forms for the RM500 Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M)2.0 scheme will have to be submitted no later than March 15.

Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said the form could be submitted at all Inland Revenue Board (IRB) offices and agencies handling the aid.

The forms had been distributed since last month to assist households earning below RM3,000 a month. He said so far about 7 million people had applied for the RM500 cash aid.

Ahmad Husni said successful applicants would be given vouchers which they could cash at all Bank Simpanan Nasional, CIMB and Maybank branches.

(Source: The Star Online)

RM500 aid brings joy to Seri Kembangan folk

Pre-CNY cheer: Liew (left) presenting BR1M 2.0 vouchers to the recipients at SJK(C) Serdang Baru 1.

 

SERDANG: It’s going to be a happier Chinese New Year for the elderly and the underprivileged in Seri Kembangan because more than 6,000 of them will receive RM500 each under the Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) 2.0 programme.

Homemaker Yap Fui Lin said the aid would come in handy and would add that “extra zing” to her family’s Chinese New Year celebrations.

“The aid is definitely of help to us,” said the 48-year-old. “I’ve just spent a lot of money buying books, school uniforms and shoes for my children – and they weren’t cheap.

Kelantan flood victims appreciate assistance

Kota Baharu: “My family and I are thankful to be able to move out in time to this flood relief centre,” said Shamsiah Saufi, 41, a resident of Kampung Tasik, here, whose home was submerged by the floods last month.

Shamsiah, her husband and 10 children were relocated to the Sekolah Kebangsaan Banggu flood relief centre here, together with other residents in the village when the flood water rose to waist level, the worst ever flood to hit the village.

“It humbles me to receive this assistance as everything is provided to meet our needs,” she added.

She is one of the almost 7,000 residents who were evacuated because of the floods in the Kelantan, through a planned evacuation operation involving the Fire and Rescue Department, Civil Defence Department, the armed forces and the police.

The natural disaster, which occurred during the monsoon season between November and March, has a huge impact on the lives of the affected residents, especially when their property and crops were also damaged.