RM20m for entrepreneurship training for B40, single mothers

The government has allocated RM20 million to implement the Urban Community Economic Empowerment Programme (PEKB) with a target of 2,000 participants this year.

Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister Ismail Abd Muttalib said the initiative targets 14 training and skills courses for the B40 (bottom 40 percent of income earners) group, especially women and single mothers.

He said the allocation is channelled under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) development budget.

The initiative will help the groups to become entrepreneurs, he said, as well as gain a higher income, improve their quality of life, and eradicate poverty.

“So far, we had 1,700 participants in various courses that have the potential to generate additional income, thus helping them with the rising cost of living.

“We have 14 courses in total and one of the new courses we are offering is childcare as well as other courses such as postpartum massage, creative sewing, frozen food, and beauty,” he said.

Ismail (above) was speaking to reporters after officiating the closing ceremony of the PEKB Year 2022 Postpartum Massage Course and Creative Sewing Course in collaboration with the National Dual Training System (SLDN) and Dunia Melayu Dunia Islam.

Also present were Malacca state executive councillor in charge of women's affairs, family development, and welfare Kalsom Noordin, Housing and Local Government Ministry secretary of the community welfare division Muhammad Musa, and SLDN chairperson Joyah Abd Rashid.

Ensuring training is beneficial

Ismail said PEKB participants will be monitored for six months to ensure they can generate income according to the key performance indicators (KPIs) set.

This is to ensure the skills learned are not wasted and their income could actually be increased, he said.

He explained that this is because participants of the programmes are not selected based on applications but through NGOs appointed by the ministry who look for participants according to set criteria.

“This is to ensure the money channelled by the government for this programme is not wasted but instead can produce more entrepreneurs according to the fields in which they are really skilled,” he said.

Ismail added that PEKB participants who have been trained are also advised to strive to master technology, especially social media or online sales platforms to market their skills or products so as not to be left behind and to penetrate a wider market.

Earlier, he presented participation certificates to 80 PEKB participants, including those from Malacca and Johor, who underwent postpartum massage and creative sewing training for seven days starting May 28.

- Bernama