BY ZAHID ZAKI & MUHD USMAN DANIAL
KUCHING: The Sejahtera MADANI Programme: Income Enhancement – Equipment Assistance provides recipients with an opportunity to improve the way they work and, in turn, increase their daily income.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said, however, such improvements could not realistically be achieved within a short period.
“Not every effort undertaken can achieve its target within such a short period. However, at the very least, we can give them the space and opportunity to improve the way they work so that they can achieve what is intended through this assistance,” she said.
She said this when met by reporters after officiating at the Sejahtera MADANI Programme: Income Enhancement – Equipment Assistance at the Pasir Pandak Multipurpose Hall here today.
Elaborating, Nancy said some recipients also had other responsibilities that prevented them from fully dedicating their time to income-generating activities.
“For example, fishermen. They cannot spend all their time going out to sea because they have other responsibilities to attend to.
“As a result, their income does not reach a level that would enable them to stop relying on assistance. Therefore, the Sarawak State Development Office (ICU JPM Sarawak) conducts visits to assist, advise and guide recipients so that they can break out of the cycle of poverty,” she said.
Nancy also explained that ICU JPM Sarawak would monitor the effectiveness of the assistance and the progress made by recipients.
“I believe they will provide reports to determine how much the recipients are earning. If some do not achieve the target, perhaps improvements can be made. ICU JPM Sarawak will conduct follow-up visits to the recipients,” she said.
