PM Najib, MPs receive Mantap participants

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Barisan Nasional members of Parliament Sunday received the fifth Parliamentary Internship Programme (Mantap) participants.

Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Mantap Chairman Datuk Razali Ibrahim and Barisan Nasional Backbenchers' Club(BNBBC) Chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Samad.

89 participants were selected to join the Mantap programme this year aimed at exposing students in current affairs pertaining to the Malaysian Parliament.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) student Noorhazana Samsuddin is an intern to the prime minister while Kolej Universiti Islam Melaka (KUIM) student Muhammad Yusuf Abdul Ghani to the deputy prime minister.

Razali, who is also Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister Department, said the Mantap programme received overwhelming response from the participants with 550 applications received this year.

He said the participants were given trainings and exposure in various aspects, including public speaking, grooming and budget preparation process.

"The Mantap programme, which started since 2011, has produced good results and the prime minister is very happy with the previous four (Mantap).

"It is our hope that all the particpants will learn and gain knowledge throughout the 45-day here while on attachment with the MPs," he told Bernama when met here.