Smart community initiative to cultivate digital economy - Rina Harun

In line with the post-Movement Control Order new normal which emphasises physical distancing, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is strengthening welfare and social protection programmes based on the digital economic platform.

Its minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun said those who would benefit from these programmes comprise the elderly, the disabled, children, women and needy families.

According to her, among the programmes implemented are aid management through the digital economic system, empowerment of entrepreneurship development programmes, micro-credit assistance to improve living standards, as well as appropriate welfare and social protection programmes.

Through these programmes, the ministry will outline the initiative of a smart society that is able to cultivate society towards a digital economy and improve the living standards of the people.

"The digital economy enables anyone to venture into the online market regardless of location and time, unlike previously when the rural community had limited opportunities to venture into entrepreneurship," she said yesterday.

She said this at the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between her ministry and Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad for cooperation in empowering social welfare programmes based on the digital economy platform.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah also attended the event.

Rina said the MoU would be a catalyst for better skills development, direct assistance, entrepreneurship, and social and community development, supported by data and technology.

"In the short term, this data aggregation initiative will allow the ministry to integrate all assistance provided to the community and enable accurate financing to target entrepreneurs, as well as provide specific guidance programmes to individuals in need," she said.

Clearly, in the larger picture, digital adaptation and transformation will open up market accessibility, create a smart digital community and sustainable economic development, as well as improve the living standards of the target group.

Meanwhile, she said corporate bodies need to highlight the Corporate Shared Value (CSV) approach in their business model which is a combination of business objectives and corporate social responsibility.

"This model generates profits and at the same time solves the problems of society. Therefore, CSV is not charity work but a business model driven by the desire to solve community problems, ensuring a 'win-win' situation can be achieved," she said.

-- BERNAMA