PM NAJIB ASKS PRIVATE SECTOR TO EMBARK ON CREATIVE CSR

PEKAN (Pahang, Malaysia), Feb 10 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Razak
Wednesday urged the private sector to embark on creative corporate
socialresponsibility (CSR) initiatives instead of just contributing money.

The Prime Minister said he was making the call because the current method
(donating money) did not meet the government's aspiration of ensuring a holistic
approach to help the target groups.

"We must find an approach so that the recipients not only benefit monetarily but
are also able to improve their livelihoods and have a better future," he said
when opening the Bukit Kenau integrated housing community centre in Mukim Pulau
Manis in this royal town of east coast state of Pahang Wednesday.

He said although emphasis on the concept of value add in the administration was
being given attention, he always thought of the need for creative aspects to be
addressed in all matters.

"This is to challenge ourselves to find new ways of doing things to produce
better results as compared to before," he said.

He said this was in line with the government's aim of eradicating poverty in the
country.

"We do not need rhetorical slogans but must prove that we are capable of helping
the poor and be committed in championing their plight," he said.

Najib who mooted the idea of this community centre a year ago also wanted to see
the project try something new and different without burdening the government.

He said this community project in Bukit Kenau could become an experiment and
model and if there were new contributors to such a project, they could be
expanded to other areas.

Affin Islamic Bank Berhad and Iris Corporation Bhd collaborated on
developing the housing project whereby 60 families from the hardcore poverty group
were selected to receive a unit of house each that cost RM33,000 and came fully
equipped with furniture and housing utensils besides electricity and water supply,
for free. (US$1=RM3.04)

The project encompassing a 7.1-hectare site cost RM7.2 million overall.

Among the projects implemented there are catfish breeding, goat breeding and
fertigation farming for watermelons of the rock and gold variety.

These projects are seen to be able to raise the household income of the
recipients to between RM800 and RM1,500 sebulan in a matter of months.

Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, almost all the other
members of the Cabinet and Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Sidek Hassan.

Najib added that it was a historic day for the residents of Bukit Kenau as it
was the first time they were acting as hosts for such a huge Cabinet delegation.

-- BERNAMA