Rosmah not involved in running PERMATA - Shahidan

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim today explained that the Prime Minister's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor was not involved in policy-making decisions involving the gifed children, PERMATA programmes.

He said, Rosmah’s role as patron does not entail administrative, financial as well as management of the foundation as only several civil servants were athourised to do so.

He said that Rosma had successfully put PERMATA programmes to a higher level to garner recognition not just in Malaysia but internationally.

"Her role as patron is based on her position that is recognised at home and abroad taking into consideration her credibility, influence and strong passion in education development among children and youth,” he said in a statement at Parliament, today.

Shahidan in his response to a question from Nga Kor Ming (DAP-Taiping), who asked the government to explain the amount allocated to the PERMATA programmes since its inception in 2007.

He also said that the allocations cover operating expenditures and the development of economic stimulus projects.

"Most of the provisions have been distributed to agencies such as KEMAS, Terengganu Family Development Foundation (YPKT), National Unity and Integration Department (JPNIN), Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI) and other agencies to execute Permata programmes on a bigger scale,” he said.

For 2015, PERMATA has received a RM51,248,399 allocation to manage the operations of 88 Permata children centres nationwide.

He added that the fund would also be used for the payment of educators’ emoluments and for executing Permata programmes including PERMATA Pintar, PERMATA Insan, PERMATA Seni, PERMATA Remaja and PERMATA Kurnia.

A total of RM4,037,500 will be used for the construction of five Permata national children centres, he added.