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The Sun
25-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
RM100 SARA aid benefits poor, says Ramanan
BUTTERWORTH: The RM100 Basic Rahmah Contribution (SARA) aid for Malaysians aged 18 and above should not be politicised, as it provides crucial support for the poor, said Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Seri He criticised those who belittle the assistance, stating that RM100 holds significant value for low-income earners. 'For the T20 group, RM100 may seem insignificant, but for the B40 community, it can buy essential groceries like rice and chicken,' Ramanan told reporters after attending the PENN 2.0 Special Fund Financing briefing here. He urged empathy towards the struggles of the underprivileged, especially amid economic difficulties. 'If a government initiative is good, acknowledge it. Do not undermine its impact,' he added. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recently announced several measures, including the one-off RM100 SARA aid, delayed toll hikes, and reduced RON95 petrol subsidies at RM1.99 per litre. Ramanan also highlighted the government's broader approach to uplifting the Indian community, moving beyond reliance on MITRA. Initiatives like the PENN fund, now doubled to RM100 million, and RM50 million Vanigham Financing for Indian entrepreneurs aim to boost economic participation. As of this month, RM417 million has been allocated for Indian community empowerment programmes. Earlier, 22 individuals received RM932,000 in financing under schemes like PENN, SPUMI, and BRIEF-i. - Bernama
The Star
25-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Don't politicise, belittle RM100 Sara assistance, great value for the poor, says Ramanan
BUTTERWORTH: The provision of additional cash assistance of RM100 to Malaysian citizens, aged 18 and above, through the Basic Rahmah Contribution (Sara) programme should not be politicised, but rather seen as a form of concern for the poor, says Datuk Seri R. Ramanan. The Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister said downplaying the value of the RM100 assistance was like belittling the poor in this country because it had a great impact on the daily lives of the less fortunate. "If he is a rich man, T20, he would indeed look down on RM100, but does he know how many people in this country are in the B40 group…how much RM100 is to them and for rich people, he doesn't understand whether RM100 is a big deal or not. "Do they know how many kilogrammes of rice RM100 can buy, how many chickens it can buy? So, if the (government) initiative is good, we have to say it is good, if it is not good, we have to say it is not good, not to belittle it," he told reporters after attending the PENN 2.0 Special Fund Financing Briefing and Presentation Ceremony here Thursday (July 24) night. Explaining further, Ramanan said all parties should show empathy and understand the reality of the lives of low-income groups, especially in challenging economic conditions. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the Finance Minister, on Wednesday (July 23) announced several major initiatives as a sign of appreciation from the Madani government to the people, including the one-off RM100 grant under the Sara programme, the delay in toll hikes for 10 highways, and the lower RON95 petrol price subsidy at RM1.99 per litre. Meanwhile, Ramanan also said the Madani government no longer relies on a single agency such as the Malaysian Indian Community Transformation Unit (Mitra) in addressing the issues of the Indian community, but has instead introduced various high-impact programmes including financing and entrepreneurship development. According to him, the government is now implementing a more comprehensive approach involving various agencies such as the National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund (Tekun), Bank Rakyat, SME Bank and Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) specifically to empower Indians. "(It is) increasing the Prosperity Empowerment and A New Normal for Indian Women (PENN) fund from RM50mil to RM100mil, in addition to an additional RM50mil fund for the BRIEF-i programme, the Indian Community Entrepreneur Development Scheme (SPUMI) and introducing Vanigham Financing for Indian Entrepreneurs with financing of RM50mil," he said. In total, he said that a total of RM417mil had been channelled by the government specifically to implement various initiatives to empower the Indian entrepreneurial community, as of this month. Earlier, a total of 22 people received total financing involving the PENN, SPUMI, SPUMI Goes Big and BRIEF-I programmes totalling RM932,000. - Bernama
New Straits Times
03-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Fund to empower Indian women entrepreneurs doubled to RM100mil
SUNGAI BULOH: The government has doubled the allocation for the Prosperity, Empowerment and A New Normal for Indian Women (PENN) programme to RM100 million, which aims to assist Indian women in building their businesses. Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan said the additional RM50 million would empower more Indian women through entrepreneurship. "This initiative has proven that the PENN programme is not only successful but is truly needed by the community," he said during the launch of PENN 2.0 at Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) headquarters in Bandar Sri Damansara. Launched in April last year, PENN has benefited 6,247 Indian women, with a total of RM42.7 million in funding disbursed, including support for 1,062 new entrepreneurs. Ramanan also praised the resilience of Indian women entrepreneurs, describing them as hardworking, disciplined and determined. The fresh allocation is expected to reach over 10,000 Indian women entrepreneurs through AIM. "This injection will boost support for recipients to expand their small businesses in sectors such as food, tailoring, beauty and community services." Ramanan said AIM beneficiaries under PENN have reported income growth of 20 to 30 per cent. Its 2024 non-performing loan rate was just 0.02 per cent, the lowest in the institution's 38-year history. "This is not merely a loan, it is a tool to elevate families and transform lives." Ramanan added that PENN offers micro-financing without financial statements, guarantors or collateral, alongside continuous mentorship by AIM. He said under PENN, interested applicants can apply for a loan starting from RM3,000 up to RM30,000. "The loan cost can go up to RM30,000 even if there are issues like bankruptcy, CTOS or CCRIS, so it is open to all. "It is meant to assist the underprivileged, especially those who have nowhere else to turn to," he said. Indian women entrepreneurs who are interested in the programme are encouraged to visit the AIM website or any AIM branch to apply and benefit from the support available. Last year, Ramanan announced an RM50 million AIM fund to support Indian women entrepreneurs through PENN.
The Star
30-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Mature democracy cannot exist without free, fair and fearless journalism, says Ramanan
KUALA LUMPUR: The National Journalists' Day (Hawana) is not a mere celebration, but a reminder that a mature democracy cannot exist without free, fair and fearless journalism, according to Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan. In a Facebook post in conjunction with Hawana 2025, Ramanan said honour and recognition should be given to the journalists for their daily dedication to reporting with conscience and amplifying the voices of the people with integrity and responsibility. "I speak not only as a government leader but as someone who deeply values the trust and freedom to speak out. "I am sincerely grateful for every news report and coverage, including those involving myself and my programmes, both past and present,' he posted. Ramanan, who is also PKR vice-president, also acknowledged the media's vital role in providing a platform for him and his colleagues to advance the reform agenda. "Without you, our voices would go unheard, and without you, the people's voices would never resonate. Keep reporting the truth. Never fear speaking out for the sake of justice," he added. Hawana is celebrated annually on May 29, with this year's main event scheduled for June 14 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL). Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to officiate the event, which is set to gather around 1,000 media practitioners from Malaysia and abroad. Now in its fifth edition since its inception in 2018, Hawana is an annual occasion that brings together media professionals to honour their contributions to national development. - Bernama
