Opposition plans to abolish 1MDB unjustified, say fund recipients
(Bernama) – The opposition manifesto to abolish 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) is unjustified as it has benefited the people.
The ten 1MDB corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes have succeeded in enhancing access to education, health and business among the target groups.
Programmes to sponsor mosque officials and kampung headman to perform haj, Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) Fund, 1Malaysia Mobile Clinic, 1Malaysia Youth Fund and Rumah Arau have improved quality of life in line with the aspiration of 1Malaysia Concept, ‘People First, Performance Now’.
Some 1.5 million people nationwide have benefited from programmes under the supervision of 1MDB Foundation with RM300 million government allocation. Muhsin Abdul Razak, 27, the recipient of the 1Malaysia Youth Fund for creative art received RM60,000 for his ‘Projek Rabak’ based in Ipoh.
The fund will help the young generation with inclination towards painting, filming, photography and poetry.
“We have a Facebook page which received 6,000 ‘like’ and established Khizanat as an open gallery for art lovers to share ideas,” said the graduate in automotive engineering from Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Youth Council secretary-general Mohd Zaidi Aziz said abolishing 1Malaysia Youth Fund is unjustified as the incentives help young people with creative and innovative skills.
“We can’t just abolish these initiatives but have to see which elements need to be improved. 1Malaysia Youth Fund is given to young people who have high skills in creative fields,” he added.
The brainchild of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak launched in 2011 has distributed about RM14.7 million to 249 recipients under 1Malaysia Youth Fund.
Melvin Tah Kok Wai, 22, was lucky to be selected for the ‘Experience Work’ pilot programme with cooperation of 1MDB Foundation and Sime Darby Foundation which provides an opportunity for poor students to work in a university.
“I worked in the Student Affairs Department as supervisor for lodging. I gained a lot of experience as well as communication skills,” said the software engineering student at Universiti Tenaga Nasional.
As of March, a total of 75 university students have benefited from the programme.
1MDB also provide ‘Majudiri Project’ to improve the quality of life and economy of small traders by providing business enhancement courses and equipment.
N. Puspavalli, 36, who runs an Indian traditional cake business said the course gave her the platform to develop her business.
“Now I feel more confident when communicating with customers and know how to market my products,” said the single mother, one of 3,000 participants who benefited form the course.
Meanwhile, Wangsa Maju (Section 1) Rukun Tetangga chairman, Ismail Abu Samah, 59, said if not for 1MDB, he would have to wait for 32 years to make the haj pilgrimage.
“I was with 400 other pilgrims under the second group of this special programme,” said the father of seven children who was grateful for the offer.
Najib recently handed offer letters to perform haj sponsored by 1MDB to 800 people including imams, kampung headmen and chairmen of kampung development and security committees (JKKK).
1MDB also provides PTA Fund of RM20 million to enhance programmes and activities in government schools and government aided schools. It also provides educational scholarships to 900 outstanding Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia students.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when presenting the manifesto said 1MDB should be abolished as it is duplication of the functions of Khazanah Nasional.
