Govt plans to look specifically into these 2 areas and efforts to strengthen social protection through focused assistance to build resilience

by LYDIA NATHAN / pic by MUHD AMIN NAHARUL

THE government will look into jobs and income recovery as it diverts efforts into improving sustainable livelihoods in a more targeted, needs-based and impactful manner for vulnerable communities.

Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz (picture) said this during the National Budget dialogue session with representatives of civil society organisations (CSOs) and social enterprises yesterday.

The session, which was organised by Yayasan Hasanah, aimed to outline key budget recommendations to strengthen the delivery of social assistance programmes while featuring CSOs as key development partners to enable a faster and more sustainable socio-economic recovery.

According to Tengku Zafrul, the government plans to look specifically into these two areas, as well as efforts to strengthen social protection through focused assistance to build resilience.

“The government remains committed to helping those in need, particularly the rakyat, who are still affected by the Covid-19 crisis.

“We would be keen to hear how we can reach out to segments of society more effectively, innovatively and more customised to their specific needs,” he said.

He added that the last 18 months showed the critical role of grassroots organisations including social enterprises, NGOs and CSOs, who came together to complement government efforts to respond in a timely and expedient manner.

Yayasan Hasanah chairman Tan Sri Mohd Nor Yusof said collaborations always add value and are better when done together.

“May 2022 be a year of recovery, resilience and reform for all as we work closely with our partners and key stakeholders to help meet the government’s aspirations of reaching more vulnerable communities in targeted, impactful and measurable ways, leaving no one behind,” he said.

Meanwhile, Yayasan Hasanah made three important recommendations during the dialogue session to further support and catalyse social impact.

MD Datuk Shahira Ahmed Bazari said the recommendations included a longer-term organisational development support system to build regional and global Malaysian CSOs who can deliver quality and impactful social programmes at scale.

“Secondly is the urgent need for a more dynamic, up-to-date and customised database system to minimise gaps in welfare programmes.

“Finally, a structural reform through tax support and incentives for social enterprises and civil society partners as well as donors,” Shahira said.

Other participants of the dialogue session included Me.Reka, the Tiger Protection Society of Malaysia, Fly Technology Agriculture Sdn Bhd and Tanoti Sdn Bhd.