Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli has vowed to engage Kelantanese lawmakers on the government’s People’s Income Initiative (IPR) after Budget 2023 is passed.
He expected the meetings to take place in a few weeks, he said, when asked about Kelantanese lawmakers saying the people there knew little about the new income-generation scheme.
“Once the budget voting is out of the way, it would be more convenient, time-wise, for the ministry and the MPs,” he told reporters at Bank Negara, Kuala Lumpur today.
The IPR programme aims to eradicate hardcore poverty but has a low take-up rate in poorer states such as Perlis, Kelantan, and Terengganu.
Rafizi revealed that out of 22,000 people registered, only 1.7 percent were from Kelantan, Terengganu (1.5 percent), Perlis (0.5 percent), Sabah (5.7 percent), and Sarawak (2.4 percent).
Therefore, the minister said he hoped to meet with opposition representatives so they can persuade their needy constituents to register for the IPR.
He said the ministry will pay special attention to expanding the IPR to the 20 poorest districts in the country including Pitas, Kudat, and Kota Marudu in Sabah; Jeli, Kuala Krai, and Bachok in Kelantan; as well as Besut and Marang in Terengganu.
Rafizi said to date, his ministry has reached out to local authorities on this, including organising town halls and engaging with local councils, mayors, and city council figures.
Meanwhile, on the fifth edition of the Economic Census initiative launched today, Rafizi hoped that data collected from 1.2 million businesses could help to better formulate government policies to empower micro, small, and medium enterprises.
He said this year’s edition of the census will begin this April and end in September, adding that the data is expected to be released in phases starting next April. - Mkini
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