KUBANG PASU: The 2023 Budget, which will be presented in Parliament on Oct 7, will focus on providing assistance for those in the B40 and M40 groups who are still struggling to recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said the government acknowledged the plight of those struggling in the post-pandemic period and would provide them with necessary economic protection.
"We will continue to help the people by providing subsidies to weather the difficulties. Our government is quite understanding on the people's predicament in this post-pandemic situation.
"Even though overall the economy is recovering, there are still people who need protection," he told reporters after presenting awards to participants of the empowerNCER programme (skills and entrepreneurs) for women, youth and jobless graduates from the B40 group at Dewan Kolej Height Utara, Jitra, today.
The programme was organised by the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA).
The empowerNCER and JomNiaga@NCER programmes were two people-based Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) human capital development programmes that provide skills and entrepreneurship training and improve business performance to vulnerable groups, especially women, youth and Orang Asli.
Commenting on the programme, Mustapa said such programmes were relevant in eradicating poverty and protecting the interest of the people.
"Those that are affected by the situation are also present here in the Northern Corridor Economic Region.
"That is the relevance of such programmes which are aimed at (helping) the poor," he said.
Mustapa added that the programmes were part of the government's initiative to accelerate the transition of social mobility among vulnerable groups in line with the target to achieve zero hardcore poverty by 2025.