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Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah reiterates, Permata will not be closed

PUTRAJAYA: Women, Family and Community Development minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail reiterated today that Pakatan Harapan’s government will retain the National Permata Programme (Permata) for gifted children.

She said a meeting will be held with Permata’s management today to discuss thorougly on the programme.

“I would like to reiterate what I have said before that whatever is good in Permata or any other programmes under the ministry will be retained and improved.

“Nevertheless, we need to conduct an audit to see whether it is cost effective and certain things that we can improve on will be taken into consideration, ” she told reporters in a press conference.

Dr Wan Azizah was answering to question on whether there will be investigation on allocation given to the programme.

When asked if there will be a change in name of the programme, Dr Wan Azizah cheekily questioned back by asking; “To change its name? Pink Diamond?,” which drew laughther from the room.

Permata is the brainchild of Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

On Tuesday, Dr Wan Azizah had given her assurance that PH government will retain Permata after she clocked in for her first day in office at Perdana Putra as Deputy Prime Minister.

She said the programme was one of the good programmes (under Barisan Nasional) that is closely tied to children’s development.

Dr Wan Azizah said she had also discussed with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad about moving the programme, which is currently under the Prime Minister’s Office, to her ministry.

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