MARA Targets 63,000 Homes For Maintenance Under SERI Programme This Year

PADANG BESAR, 16 Mei (Bernama) -- Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) aims to carry out maintenance works on about 63,000 homes nationwide this year, through the Selenggara Elektrik Rumah Impian (SERI) Programme under its MARA Prihatin initiative, involving an allocation of RM100,000.

MARA director-general Datuk Zulfikri Osman said the programme not only focused on electrical maintenance works for the homes of B40 and asnaf families, but also served as an integrated platform to coordinate various forms of educational, welfare and community development assistance.

“To date, the SERI programme has benefited 4,016 houses nationwide, and we estimate that about 63,000 houses will undergo maintenance works this year.

“MARA Prihatin is not only focused on the SERI programme, but also involves educational assistance for B40 and underprivileged students, schooling aid and assistance for entrepreneurs,” he told reporters after officiating the Perlis state-level MARA Prihatin Programme in Beseri, near here today.

Zulfikri said MARA also provides insurance assistance to underprivileged students through its subsidiary Rural Capital, as well as offering a 20 per cent reduction in rental rates for entrepreneurs operating at its premises nationwide.

He also urged entrepreneurs experiencing financial constraints to come forward and consult MARA officers on possible loan repayment rescheduling.

“This reflects MARA’s concern for the people, not only in terms of education and welfare, but also for entrepreneurs affected by current economic challenges,” he said.

Meanwhile, Zulfikri said efforts to strengthen MARA’s role require the cooperation of various parties, including government-linked companies (GLCs), government-linked investment companies (GLICs) and industry players.

On the marketability rate of MARA’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates, he said it stood at 97 per cent.

The state-level MARA Prihatin programme featured a range of community activities, including the MARA Education Institutions (IPMA) education exhibition, health screenings, parenting seminars, schooling assistance, kenduri sekampung, as well as services such as free haircuts.

--BERNAMA