KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 2,536 participants from the hardcore poor, poor and B40 groups were approved to take part in three schemes under the People's Income Initiative.
The programme, which aims to eradicate poverty and increase people's income, is better known as Inisiatif Pendapatan Rakyat (IPR).
The three initiatives are Agro Entrepreneur Initiative (IPR-Intan), Food Entrepreneur Initiative (IPR-Insan) and Services Operator Initiative (IPR-Ikhsan).
Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib said that of the total:
* 79.2 per cent of participants were Malays;
* 16.2 per cent were from ethnic groups in Sabah and Sarawak;
*2.2 per cent were Indians;
* 1 per cent each from the Chinese community and indigenous community; and,
* 0.4 per cent were Siamese.
"The government is committed to improving living standards.
"In this regard, the ministry is taking steps to boost participation in IPR."
She said this in response to S. Kesavan (Pakatan Harapan-Sungai Siput).
Kesavan inquired about the implementation of IPR and the number of initiatives carried out under each category and its breakdown according to race.
For IPR-Intan, Hanifah said 1,485 participants were approved for it, with implementation in 16 locations covering 528.5ha.
"For instance, participants growing fertigated chili and eggplant in Ulu Kinta, Perak, have earned a net monthly income exceeding RM2,000."
For IPR-Insan, Hanifah said that up to Oct 15, 161 participants had benefited from it, with average daily sales ranging from RM90 to RM400.
"Participants operating IPR-Insan vending machines at UiTM Sri Iskandar, Perak, have achieved monthly sales of up to RM5,000."
For IPR-Ikhsan, 890 participants were approved for it, she added.