KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 — A total of 82,892 applications have been received for the People's Income Initiative (Inisiatif Pendapatan Rakyat or IPR) until May 22, of which 33,501 individuals are from the low-income group, said the Economy Ministry.
The ministry said that in terms of category from the low-income group, a total of 16,135 individuals or 48 per cent applied for the Food Entrepreneur Initiative (Insan) programme, 10,055 individuals (30 per cent) applied for the Agricultural Entrepreneur Initiative (Intan) programme and 7,311 individuals (22 per cent) applied for the Service Operator Initiative (Ikhsan) programme.
The ministry said that it has cross-checked with the National Poverty Data Bank (eKasih) under the Implementation Coordination Unit, Prime Minister's Department (ICU, JPM) as well as the data of recipients of Rahmah Cash Donations under the Finance Ministry.
“The purpose of this cross-check is to ensure that only applicants with an income below RM5,000 are eligible to participate in this programme.
“In addition, the head of household (KIR) in the eKasih and iDamak data will also be involved in the appropriate IPR programme according to the interest of the KIR,” the ministry said in a written reply published on the Parliament website yesterday.
The Economy Ministry was replying to the question from Kuala Selangor MP Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad who wanted to know the extent of the success of the IPR programme in improving the economy of the B40 group, as part of the government's efforts to reduce the income gap.
Following the launch of the IPR programme on Feb 26, 2023, the existing Hardcore Poverty Eradication programme has been integrated and rebranded under the IPR.
To date, RM22.8 million were spent, while for the period from February to May 2023, RM370,000 were distributed.
“Since the Economy Ministry is implementing the procurement process for the IPR programme, most of the allocation is expected to be spent in the second half of 2023,” said the ministry in a reply to the question from Bachok MP Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman who wanted to know the kind of assistance and support provided by the ministry to the states which recorded low participation of IPR participants including any alternative planning to help the affected target groups.
The Economy Ministry is also actively engaging with all state governments and district offices to identify participants from the hardcore poor, poor and B40 categories to be registered in the IPR to ensure more comprehensive participation throughout the country on a large scale.
— Bernama
