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Micro Credit Scheme To Fight Poverty In Perak
IPOH, May 3 (Bernama) -- The Perak government, throughthe Yayasan Bina Upaya (CapacityBuilding Foundation), will make available a RM4-million launching grant underthe micro credit scheme to help the poor unshackle themselves from poverty,Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said Monday.
He said participants would be given interest-free loansof between RM5,000 and RM10,000 according to specific programmes, such asIkhtisad and Ikhtiar, to enable them start a small-scale business.
"Under the scheme, the hardcore poor have the chanceto emerge from poverty, and they have to strive on their own to raise theirliving standard," he told reporters after opening a symposium on capacitybuilding and poverty eradication, here.
He said the foundation would conduct follow-up andtraining programmes for the participants to ensure that they really used thefunds to raise their living standard.
He also said that the former managing director of AmanahIkhtiar Malaysia (AIM), Prof Sukor Kasim, an expert on the micro creditprogramme and rural development from Universiti Sains Malaysia, would help thestate government implement the scheme.
Dr Zambry said the foundation also set up Ikon Bina Upaya(IBU) or a Capability Building Icon squad to help gather information so thataid could be given swiftly.
The menteri besar said the efforts of the stategovernment to eradicate poverty would be futile unless there was cooperation andcommitment from all quarters including non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
"The squad now has a membership of 5,000 volunteersstate-wide who will act as the eyes and ears of the state government ineradicating poverty," he said.
He also said that the foundation also forged cooperationwith various NGOs in the state to carry out poverty-eradication efforts moreeffectively.-- BERNAMA
