NTP creates 1.8 million jobs between 2010 and 2016 - PM Najib

The National Transformation Programme (NTP) created 1.8 million jobs between 2010 and 2016, of which over one million were high-income jobs, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said through NTP the Gross National Income increased by nearly 50 percent and Malaysia has almost eradicated poverty, reducing it to just 0.6 percent.

"We have kept inflation and unemployment low, and have been acclaimed by global institutions such as the World Bank and the IMF (International Monetary Fund) for the reforms we have undertaken.

"We are firmly on the path to become a high-income nation. In short, we have an economic plan. That plan is working, we have delivered, and we will continue to deliver," Najib said during his keynote address at the 2017 Global Transformation Forum, at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, here today.

Najib said through NTP, no Malaysian gets left behind, where the needs of all people are met, and all communities are able to contribute to and share in the wealth of the country.

Najib said to help those less well-coped with rising costs of living, and also to stimulate economic activity in the consumer market, 1Malaysia People's Aid was introduced in 2012 and provided targeted relief to 7.28 million households earning less than RM3,000 a month in 2016.

Additionally, he said, the government has targeted 1.1 million affordable and low-cost homes for middle and low-income households including housing for civil servants and new generation of Felda settlers, where 21 percent of the project has been completed and another 22 percent are currently under construction.

"One of the reasons why the NTP has been so successful, and why we have been able to introduce programmes such as BR1M and various targeted housing plans, is because we have maintained a strong focus on two areas: human capital, and connectivity," he said.

Najib also listed programmes under NTP, among it; the new innovation centres; increasing graduate employability; boosting female participation in the workforce; and supporting women's place in the boardroom and leadership positions.

Also present at GTF 2017 that was organised by Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu), were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Pemandu chief executive officer Datuk Seri Idris Jala and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Ali Hamsa.

Meanwhile, the success stories of two individuals, Zul Izzamin and Chik Azmily Che Abdul Aziz, who benefited from the NTP that was launched in 2010, received special mention from Najib during his keynote address.

He said, under the Small Retailer Transformation Programme (TUKAR), Zul Izzamin who inherited a sundry shop from his late father in Johor was cited under the NTP to improve the living standards of low income households.

Najib said Zul took a TUKAR programme that was advertised in a newspaper and found out he was eligible, enrolled and took the initiative to implement expert advice from TUKAR programme mentors.

"He took a RM25,000 loan offered under the progamme and renovated his shop. Since then he said 'our shop income increased by 100-200 per cent'. A wonderful example of the NTP in action," he said.

The other success story is that of a Kelantanese, Chik Azmily and his wife who are involved in the 1AZAM (Poverty Eradication Programme) initiative, which provided him with agricultural equipment, seeds, fertiliser and herbicides.

He said Chik Azmily started growing short-term seasonal cash crops such as cucumber and watermelons and selling them to wholesalers.

"His wife (name not mentioned) was provided with sewing machines to kick-start her tailoring work, and she managed to secure a deal with a batik factory to tailor batik shirts.

"Within a couple of years, they had gone from earning RM500 a month to RM5,000 a month. Isn't that remarkable?," he added.

Furthermore, Najib also shared the success stories of Idris who comes from a small community, Kelabit in the rural area of Sarawak, which consists of only 5,000 people in that community, and once had made himself a cabinet minister.

"We are so proud. Despite representing a very tiny community, he made it to become a Cabinet Minister. That is also another transformation story," he said. -- Bernama