By MAZLINDA MAHMOOD AND HASHINI KANNAN
Najib calls for stronger public-private partnership to assist the disabled and less fortunate
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak with guests at the Chap Goh
Mehcelebration in Klang yesterday. Pix by Sairien Nafis
Megat Ali Fari, 8, shouting ‘1Malaysia’ after Najib had finished
his speech. Pix by Sairien Nafis
THERE is a need for greater publicprivate partnership to provide a better social safety net for the disabled and less fortunate.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said with the social safety net, there would be no need to implement the welfare state in Malaysia because all countries which adopted the welfare state model eventually ended up facing serious economic problems.
He said the public should feel empathy for the less fortunate and assist them to have a more meaningful life.
“This is why the government has a policy of providing a social safety net in the country, although we are not a welfare state.
“If we can create a country that provides a social safety net and prioritises the people’s welfare, we can then establish a fairer, more equitable and balanced society.
In this way, we will be able to share the country’s wealth,” said Najib at a Chap Goh Meh celebration at the Hokkien Association building here yesterday.
Speaking before more than 1,500 people, including the disabled and less fortunate, Najib said the government had provided a social safety net through many channels, one of them the 1Malaysia Social Welfare Programme (KAR1SMA) under the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.
The government, said Najib, had allocated RM1.4 billion annually through KAR1SMA to assist the less fortunate, including the disabled and single mothers.
“We also have and are still in the process of distributing aid like RM100 for primary and secondary school students and RM500 Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) for households earning less than RM3,000 a month.
“Almost 80 per cent of households will receive aid under BR1M. We have set aside RM2.6 billion to help the people.”
At the same time, Najib also encouraged private corporations and government-linked companies to carry out more corporate social responsibility programmes and have partnerships with government agencies to assist the less
fortunate and the disabled.
Citing the example of Tokoh Maulidur Rasul National Award recipient Muhammad Hadi Darus, who scored 9As in the recent Penilaian Menengah Rendah examination despite being disabled, Najib said the disabled could achieve success if they were given a chance.
“This is an example that we can be proud of. We have to help this group so that they can lead a more meaningful life.
“I hope with this programme, the less fortunate will have a sense of belonging and realise that many people care and want to help.
This is the spirit of 1Malaysia.”
Among those who attended the celebration was Saifudin Mohd, 45, who has a 10-year-old son with Down's syndrome.
Saifuddin said he was pleased with the efforts taken by the government to care for the disabled and the elderly.
"The government is doing a lot to help the disabled.
"All I hope is for greater awareness from the public and private sectors to help the less fortunate."
Letchumi Subramanian, 45, who suffered from polio at the age of 7 that left her wheelchair-bound, was impressed with the government's initiatives.
"My hope is for the government to provide more allocations for the disabled in the civil service and to provide jobs in the private sector," said the administrative officer.
Grace Community Services director of social works Roy Tan, 57, said government support was of utmost importance to foundations and charity homes.
Tan said: "If the government makes the move, the private sector and other bodies will step in and give us help."
Najib announced a RM500,000 allocation for 50 charity and welfare bodies in Selangor.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said with the social safety net, there would be no need to implement the welfare state in Malaysia because all countries which adopted the welfare state model eventually ended up facing serious economic problems.
He said the public should feel empathy for the less fortunate and assist them to have a more meaningful life.
“This is why the government has a policy of providing a social safety net in the country, although we are not a welfare state.
“If we can create a country that provides a social safety net and prioritises the people’s welfare, we can then establish a fairer, more equitable and balanced society.
In this way, we will be able to share the country’s wealth,” said Najib at a Chap Goh Meh celebration at the Hokkien Association building here yesterday.
Speaking before more than 1,500 people, including the disabled and less fortunate, Najib said the government had provided a social safety net through many channels, one of them the 1Malaysia Social Welfare Programme (KAR1SMA) under the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.
The government, said Najib, had allocated RM1.4 billion annually through KAR1SMA to assist the less fortunate, including the disabled and single mothers.
“We also have and are still in the process of distributing aid like RM100 for primary and secondary school students and RM500 Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) for households earning less than RM3,000 a month.
“Almost 80 per cent of households will receive aid under BR1M. We have set aside RM2.6 billion to help the people.”
At the same time, Najib also encouraged private corporations and government-linked companies to carry out more corporate social responsibility programmes and have partnerships with government agencies to assist the less
fortunate and the disabled.
Citing the example of Tokoh Maulidur Rasul National Award recipient Muhammad Hadi Darus, who scored 9As in the recent Penilaian Menengah Rendah examination despite being disabled, Najib said the disabled could achieve success if they were given a chance.
“This is an example that we can be proud of. We have to help this group so that they can lead a more meaningful life.
“I hope with this programme, the less fortunate will have a sense of belonging and realise that many people care and want to help.
This is the spirit of 1Malaysia.”
Among those who attended the celebration was Saifudin Mohd, 45, who has a 10-year-old son with Down's syndrome.
Saifuddin said he was pleased with the efforts taken by the government to care for the disabled and the elderly.
"The government is doing a lot to help the disabled.
"All I hope is for greater awareness from the public and private sectors to help the less fortunate."
Letchumi Subramanian, 45, who suffered from polio at the age of 7 that left her wheelchair-bound, was impressed with the government's initiatives.
"My hope is for the government to provide more allocations for the disabled in the civil service and to provide jobs in the private sector," said the administrative officer.
Grace Community Services director of social works Roy Tan, 57, said government support was of utmost importance to foundations and charity homes.
Tan said: "If the government makes the move, the private sector and other bodies will step in and give us help."
Najib announced a RM500,000 allocation for 50 charity and welfare bodies in Selangor.
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