KPKT Allocates RM11 Mln For Urban Community Economic Empowerment Programme 2025

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 8 (Bernama) -- An allocation totalling RM11 million has been set aside for the implementation of the Urban Community Economic Empowerment Programme (PEKB) 2025 which is expected to benefit 1,060 participants from the B40 group in urban areas, according to Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government, Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu.

She said to ensure the success of PEKB 2025, a total of 29 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have been entrusted with the responsibility of training the PEKB participants to ensure that each of them receives high-quality entrepreneurship training, enabling them to run their own businesses.

“More than 90 NGOs applied to join PEKB, but only 29 were approved and allocated funding.

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“And those funded NGOs must ensure that within six months, the training provided to the PEKB participants will help increase their income to at least RM750, which is above the poverty line, as the current poverty line is RM747,” she told reporters after the presentation of approval letters for the implementation of the PEKB 2025 here today.

PEKB, previously known as the Azam Bandar Programme, is an annual initiative by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) that was introduced in 2013 where participants undergo a week-long entrepreneurship skill and knowledge course and are provided with the necessary equipment and tools to start or expand the chosen skill-based business.

To date, a total of RM174 million has been allocated for this programme to train 16,955 PEKB entrepreneurs nationwide.

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According to Aiman Athirah, each NGO will be monitored throughout the programme, and they have been reminded not to violate the regulations enforced by KPKT and not to repeat the mistakes made by other NGOs during previous PEKB implementations.

“There were some NGOs that breached contracts in the past, and they were not given a second chance to receive funding, but there were also some NGOs that performed well and were given repeated funding due to the successful implementation of the programme,” she explained.

Among the recipients of the funding is the Sabah Social Entrepreneurs and Eco Development Society, which will begin a sewing crafts training programme for more than 30 individuals in Sandakan next month.

Its president, Datuk Aminah Ambrose, expressed her appreciation to KPKT for the trust placed in the association to conduct entrepreneurship training for eligible individuals.

“At present, we are still in the process of screening names to ensure that only those truly eligible join our programme. We have received over 1,000 applications, but only 35 will be selected, and we are determined to help them break free from the cycle of poverty,” she said.

-- BERNAMA