1azam programme helps to improve income

LUNDU: The 1Azam programme, aimed at helping the poor people to increase their income through business activity, has proven to be a useful model as the monthly income for some participants in this district has increased by some 45 per cent.

In fact, many of the participants have recorded a 230 per cent increase in their monthly income, says Lundu district officer Azmi Bujang.

Sharing this at the launching ceremony of 1Azam Business Matching programme for Lundu District for the year 2013 at Dewan Masyarakat here yesterday, Azmi said it was the key-performance indicator (KPI) of the district office to help the participants to increase their income by at least 25 per cent.

In the 2010-2012 period, 732 individuals had participated in the programme while for this year the district office was aiming to help 185 poor people.

“The programme is aimed at helping the poor people to get out of the poverty trap. There are 2,615 people in the district who are registered with e-Kasih. Last year, the district recorded 74 people who are categorised as hard core poor. This means that many people here are still in need of assistance.

“District offices, just like other government agencies, have the responsibility to ensure that the schemes can reach the target group.”
Under the 1Azam programme, the eligible participants would be given a RM10,000 start-up fund to improve their equipment in one of three sectors, namely agriculture, commerce and services.

The programme also helps the unemployed people to get a job.
Santubong MP Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who officiated at the event, said that rural folk should not miss out on the opportunity offered by 1Azam as it was one of the government’s efforts to improve their well-being.

He said that a good programme like 1Azam would not able to achieve its objective without strong determination of the participants.
“Never give up in your business. You must also accept criticism with an open mind. You must help yourself to be in the list of high-income individuals.”
Wan Junaidi, who is also the Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker, later told reporters that he believed that the 1Azam programme would help to promote the business spirit among the rural people.


Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/01/10/1azam-programme-helps-to-improve-income/#ixzz2HZtND5or