ID :
170727
Fri, 03/25/2011 - 08:23
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/170727
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ENCOURAGING WOMEN TO PARTICIPATE IN BUSINESS
By Sakini Mohd Said
KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 (Bernama) -- In attaining the high income nation status and improving the livelihood of its people, women have an important role in realising these goals.
Hitherto, the government has recognised the contribution of the fairer sex to the nation's economic growth.
What more, the women's role and contribution was acknowledged by Prime Minister Najib Razak himself.
Therefore, it is not surprising when the National Key Result Areas (NKRAs) and the accompanying Key Performance Indicators (KPI) introduced to improve the government's delivery system and fulfill the people's desires emphasised on
women's role in driving the economic growth.
In realising the NKRA goals, the Ministry of Women and Family Development
has an important role to play, especially in bringing them out from the
conservative mindset and encourage their active participation in the economic
and social realm.
Women's participation in business is seen pertinent especially through
retail, healthcare and food production.
The commitment is clear when the Ministry was given the task to create
4,000 women entrepreneurs by 2012.
In line with this, programmes have been outlined to develop the capacity of
these group including through technical training, basic entrepreneurship and the
'1Azam-Akhiri Zaman Miskin' approach to eradicate poverty.
BRINGING WOMEN INTO ENTREPRENEURSHIP
The 1Azam programme introduced last year is to enhance the income of the
poor and hardcore poor through four approaches, Azam Kerja (Work), Azam Tani
(Agriculture), Azam Niaga (Business) and Azam Khidmat (Services) to realise the
government's aspiration to free them from the shackles of poverty through
'productive welfare'.
Though these programmes are not exclusive for women as they also involve men
who are the head of households, it is certainly relevant in encouraging women
especially single mothers and housewives who lead the family to improve their
economic standing.
The Minister of Women and Family Development Sharizat Abdul Jalil stated it
is time to reform their mentality so that they become more independent and
reduce their dependence on the government.
"We are now seeing there are many from the fairer sex getting acquainted
with business and this will help increase women's participation in this field."
said the Ministry's NKRA officer, Hazmi Samsudin to Bernama recently.
Looking at the potential of these programmes, the government has allocated
RM$363.6 million for 2010 while RM358.76 million allocated in 2011 for the
1Azam programme. (US$1=RM3.02)
1AZAM GOES INTO HIGH GEAR IN 2011
Commenting further, Hazmi noted that those receiving assistance under 1Azam
are carefully chosen through the e-kasih register under the Prime Minister's
Department.
Out of the 45,611 poor and hardcore poor households earning between RM750
and RM2,000 monthly, 30,068 head of the households including in Sabah and
Sarawak have shown interest in the programme.
It has been reported that 9,687 of the 45,611 households are headed by women
and the government is doing its level best to help free them from the shackles
of poverty.
"After vetting, only 7,401 were qualified to receive aid under 1Azam
for 2010. The rest were under consideration," he said.
In ensuring the success of 1Azam, Hazmi pointed out that it is impossible
for the Ministry to undertake the efforts on its own and thus enlisted the
assistance of Human Resources Ministry for the Azam Kerja approach, Agriculture
and Agro Based Industries Ministry (Azam Tani) while the Azam Khidmat and Azam
Niaga will be undertaken through Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM).
"The 1Azam will go on overdrive this year and therefore RM358.76 million
has been allocated with the Ministry utilising RM50 million for the Azam Niaga
and Azam Khidmat while the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry has
been allocated RM20 million and the Human Resource Ministry...RM8.76 million.
"While Sabah and Sarawak were allocated RM140 million respectively for
2011," he said.
POVERTY SOMETHING IN THE PAST
A participant of the Azam Niaga, Sabariah Mohd Tahir is finally enjoying a
comfortable life when her small business grew into a big one bringing her a
gross income of up to RM90,000 per month.
Using her know-how in making cakes, kuih (traditional local cakes), fritters
and others that she picked up through the courses she attended through 1Azam,
she was able to market the products of Ain Z Collections Enterprise not only
around Kuala Lumpur but in other states as well.
"I learned of the 1Azam through my friends. Initially, my business scope was
around the village and could not take orders from outside as there was not
enough equipment.
"However, after participating in Azam Niaga and with the easy loans
available under the programme I have borrowed four times to buy equipment like
the plastic sealing machine. With the loan, I can take in orders from Kedah,
Terengganu and Johor," said this single mother.
She has received numerous awards with the recent one being the 2010 Selangor
Risda Best Entrepreneur for the Bread and Pastry category.
KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 (Bernama) -- In attaining the high income nation status and improving the livelihood of its people, women have an important role in realising these goals.
Hitherto, the government has recognised the contribution of the fairer sex to the nation's economic growth.
What more, the women's role and contribution was acknowledged by Prime Minister Najib Razak himself.
Therefore, it is not surprising when the National Key Result Areas (NKRAs) and the accompanying Key Performance Indicators (KPI) introduced to improve the government's delivery system and fulfill the people's desires emphasised on
women's role in driving the economic growth.
In realising the NKRA goals, the Ministry of Women and Family Development
has an important role to play, especially in bringing them out from the
conservative mindset and encourage their active participation in the economic
and social realm.
Women's participation in business is seen pertinent especially through
retail, healthcare and food production.
The commitment is clear when the Ministry was given the task to create
4,000 women entrepreneurs by 2012.
In line with this, programmes have been outlined to develop the capacity of
these group including through technical training, basic entrepreneurship and the
'1Azam-Akhiri Zaman Miskin' approach to eradicate poverty.
BRINGING WOMEN INTO ENTREPRENEURSHIP
The 1Azam programme introduced last year is to enhance the income of the
poor and hardcore poor through four approaches, Azam Kerja (Work), Azam Tani
(Agriculture), Azam Niaga (Business) and Azam Khidmat (Services) to realise the
government's aspiration to free them from the shackles of poverty through
'productive welfare'.
Though these programmes are not exclusive for women as they also involve men
who are the head of households, it is certainly relevant in encouraging women
especially single mothers and housewives who lead the family to improve their
economic standing.
The Minister of Women and Family Development Sharizat Abdul Jalil stated it
is time to reform their mentality so that they become more independent and
reduce their dependence on the government.
"We are now seeing there are many from the fairer sex getting acquainted
with business and this will help increase women's participation in this field."
said the Ministry's NKRA officer, Hazmi Samsudin to Bernama recently.
Looking at the potential of these programmes, the government has allocated
RM$363.6 million for 2010 while RM358.76 million allocated in 2011 for the
1Azam programme. (US$1=RM3.02)
1AZAM GOES INTO HIGH GEAR IN 2011
Commenting further, Hazmi noted that those receiving assistance under 1Azam
are carefully chosen through the e-kasih register under the Prime Minister's
Department.
Out of the 45,611 poor and hardcore poor households earning between RM750
and RM2,000 monthly, 30,068 head of the households including in Sabah and
Sarawak have shown interest in the programme.
It has been reported that 9,687 of the 45,611 households are headed by women
and the government is doing its level best to help free them from the shackles
of poverty.
"After vetting, only 7,401 were qualified to receive aid under 1Azam
for 2010. The rest were under consideration," he said.
In ensuring the success of 1Azam, Hazmi pointed out that it is impossible
for the Ministry to undertake the efforts on its own and thus enlisted the
assistance of Human Resources Ministry for the Azam Kerja approach, Agriculture
and Agro Based Industries Ministry (Azam Tani) while the Azam Khidmat and Azam
Niaga will be undertaken through Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM).
"The 1Azam will go on overdrive this year and therefore RM358.76 million
has been allocated with the Ministry utilising RM50 million for the Azam Niaga
and Azam Khidmat while the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry has
been allocated RM20 million and the Human Resource Ministry...RM8.76 million.
"While Sabah and Sarawak were allocated RM140 million respectively for
2011," he said.
POVERTY SOMETHING IN THE PAST
A participant of the Azam Niaga, Sabariah Mohd Tahir is finally enjoying a
comfortable life when her small business grew into a big one bringing her a
gross income of up to RM90,000 per month.
Using her know-how in making cakes, kuih (traditional local cakes), fritters
and others that she picked up through the courses she attended through 1Azam,
she was able to market the products of Ain Z Collections Enterprise not only
around Kuala Lumpur but in other states as well.
"I learned of the 1Azam through my friends. Initially, my business scope was
around the village and could not take orders from outside as there was not
enough equipment.
"However, after participating in Azam Niaga and with the easy loans
available under the programme I have borrowed four times to buy equipment like
the plastic sealing machine. With the loan, I can take in orders from Kedah,
Terengganu and Johor," said this single mother.
She has received numerous awards with the recent one being the 2010 Selangor
Risda Best Entrepreneur for the Bread and Pastry category.
