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Barnama
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- Barnama
- Malaysia's Steady Hand In Delivering Aid: A Testament To MADANI Governance
Opinions on topical issues from thought leaders, columnists and editors. This effort is complemented by a historic one-time RM100 credit for every adult Malaysian starting Aug 31, along with the subsidised RON95 fuel at RM1.99 per litre. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recently unveiled a landmark initiative under his MADANI agenda. The Sejahtera MADANI programme, launched on July 24, aims to sustain and deepen support for nearly 150,000 households that have recently exited hardcore poverty. While some ASEAN countries face growing risks due to shrinking aid, Malaysia has proven that strong leadership, sound economic planning, and social responsibility can build lasting national resilience. This new phase builds upon previous achievements and strengthens the MADANI principles of inclusivity, compassion, and good governance. These measures show a government that is responsive to the people's needs and firmly committed to partnering with the corporate sector to uplift the rakyat. During challenging times, Malaysia did not merely weather the storm. Under Anwar's leadership, the country advanced toward a fairer and more caring society. Between 2023 and 2025, many ASEAN nations struggled with declining foreign assistance and shifting priorities among global donors. In contrast, Malaysia emerged as a beacon of resilience and responsible governance. Guided by Prime Minister Anwar and the MADANI administration, Malaysia showed that it could manage economic uncertainties while still protecting its citizens through focused and well-planned aid programmes. Unlike other regional nations that depended heavily on grants and international support, Malaysia's strength came from its ability to manage its own finances wisely. The MADANI framework emphasised values such as empathy, inclusivity, and sustainable development. At a time when development finance in Southeast Asia was levelling off or being reduced, Malaysia worked to build its own capacity and enhance social safety nets. In 2023 and 2024, while some ASEAN countries experienced pressure on their health and education sectors due to reduced donor funding, Malaysia responded by increasing national budget allocations in these areas. Prioritising people's needs The Belanjawan 2023 and Belanjawan 2024 budgets were widely praised for prioritising the needs of the rakyat. These included direct financial aid to low-income households through the Bantuan Tunai Rahmah programme, fuel subsidies, and efforts to bridge the digital divide for students and entrepreneurs. Prime Minister Anwar's administration also took important steps to protect the most vulnerable. Initiatives such as improving the eKasih database, supporting gig economy workers, and widening financial access through digital banking reflected a deep awareness of the public's needs in a changing economy. Most notably, while lower-income ASEAN countries began to feel the impact of donor withdrawal, Malaysia continued to support rural and underserved communities. Investments in public healthcare and targeted funding for small and medium enterprises helped shield the economy from global inflation and supply disruptions. As international aid began to retreat by 2025, Malaysia offered a powerful example. It proved that sustained, inclusive support must come from within. Prime Minister Anwar's vision has not only brought stability but also strengthened Malaysia's standing as a regional leader in equitable and people-centred governance. -- BERNAMA Ahmad Nizam Che Kasim is a lecturer with the Faculty of Business and Communication, Universiti Malaysia Perlis.
The Sun
29-07-2025
- General
- The Sun
Sejahtera MADANI initiative transforms Malaysia's poverty eradication strategy
PUTRAJAYA: The Sejahtera MADANI initiative marks a new chapter in Malaysia's social justice landscape as it combines policy strength, data precision, and sincerity of implementers in a holistic effort to eradicate poverty in a dignified and effective manner, based on local values and culture, said academics. According to Prof Dr Zainal Abidin Sanusi, a lecturer at the Department of Political Science and MADANI Studies at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), the initiative reflects more than just financial assistance; it represents a transformational approach that addresses structural, emotional, and human dimensions of poverty. 'Sejahtera MADANI is not merely another welfare policy. It's a systemic shift in how we understand and address poverty, not merely in statistics, but also in realities that require structural reform and strategic unification,' he told Bernama. Zainal, who also heads IIUM's Sejahtera Centre for Sustainability and Humanity, said the strength of Sejahtera MADANI lies in its integration of existing aid programmes such as the Rakyat Sejahtera Housing Programme (PPRS), Amanah Ikhtiar, and Tekun, along with national databases like eKasih and MyKasih, which lacked coordination. 'With Sejahtera MADANI, we now see clearer structural alignment, especially through a household-based approach focusing on Heads of Households (KIR) and Household Members (AIR) and guided by four key areas of focus, namely income, education, housing, and welfare,' he explained. Zainal said this strategy views poverty as a structural issue, not merely a lack of income, which aligns with the principles of inclusivity and social justice that form the backbone of the Malaysia MADANI framework. He also welcomed the emphasis on local-level implementation, noting that many past programmes failed not due to poor policy design, but because of weak micro-governance and outdated data. 'Sejahtera MADANI empowers grassroots implementers as development enablers, not just aid distributors. It also brings together initiatives such as Sekolah Angkat MADANI, Kampung Angkat MADANI, Komuniti@UniMADANI, and Bakti MADANI into a mutually reinforcing ecosystem,' he said. A key feature of the initiative is a more transparent and responsive impact monitoring system, designed to adapt to changing socio-economic conditions, demanding not just policy restructuring, but a shift in execution culture. Zainal also emphasised the need for remapping poverty hotspots, using micro-level community assessments rather than relying solely on macro data. At the same time, Zainal lauded the government's move to upgrade the eKasih database, calling it a vital step to ensure fairer aid distribution because poverty, he said, is deeply interconnected with educational access, mental health, aid dependency, and the absence of community voices in development processes. 'Sejahtera MADANI presents a forward-thinking, holistic strategy, including the development of self-worth and financial literacy among poor communities,' he remarked. As a direct contributor to the Sekolah Angkat and Kampung Angkat programmes, Zainal urged for all MADANI-branded initiatives to be strategically consolidated under the Sejahtera MADANI umbrella, to avoid duplication and fragmented implementation. 'We need a comprehensive execution plan, backed by a robust ecosystem of data, implementers, and shared monitoring,' he said. The professor also stressed that the success of Sejahtera MADANI hinges on consistent political commitment, efficient implementation, and a culture of integrity and empowerment at every level. Launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on July 24, Sejahtera MADANI has already raised over RM120 million, underscoring the government's commitment to eliminating poverty through focused and integrated national efforts. The programme is coordinated by the Implementation Coordination Unit under the Prime Minister's Department (ICU JPM), and targets registered poor and hardcore poor households within the eKasih database. - Bernama
Barnama
29-07-2025
- General
- Barnama
Sejahtera MADANI Initiative A New Holistic Strategy To Eradicate Poverty
By Samantha Tan Chiew Tieng PUTRAJAYA, July 29 (Bernama) -- The Sejahtera MADANI initiative marks a new chapter in Malaysia's social justice landscape as it combines policy strength, data precision, and sincerity of implementers in a holistic effort to eradicate poverty in a dignified and effective manner, based on local values and culture, said academics. According to Prof Dr Zainal Abidin Sanusi, a lecturer at the Department of Political Science and MADANI Studies at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), the initiative reflects more than just financial assistance; it represents a transformational approach that addresses structural, emotional, and human dimensions of poverty. 'Sejahtera MADANI is not merely another welfare policy. It's a systemic shift in how we understand and address poverty, not merely in statistics, but also in realities that require structural reform and strategic unification,' he told Bernama. Zainal, who also heads IIUM's Sejahtera Centre for Sustainability and Humanity, said the strength of Sejahtera MADANI lies in its integration of existing aid programmes such as the Rakyat Sejahtera Housing Programme (PPRS), Amanah Ikhtiar, and Tekun, along with national databases like eKasih and MyKasih, which lacked coordination. 'With Sejahtera MADANI, we now see clearer structural alignment, especially through a household-based approach focusing on Heads of Households (KIR) and Household Members (AIR) and guided by four key areas of focus, namely income, education, housing, and welfare,' he explained. Zainal said this strategy views poverty as a structural issue, not merely a lack of income, which aligns with the principles of inclusivity and social justice that form the backbone of the Malaysia MADANI framework. He also welcomed the emphasis on local-level implementation, noting that many past programmes failed not due to poor policy design, but because of weak micro-governance and outdated data. 'Sejahtera MADANI empowers grassroots implementers as development enablers, not just aid distributors. It also brings together initiatives such as Sekolah Angkat MADANI, Kampung Angkat MADANI, Komuniti@UniMADANI, and Bakti MADANI into a mutually reinforcing ecosystem,' he said.
Barnama
24-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Sejahtera MADANI Initiative Offers Relief, Helps Boost Living Standards
PUTRAJAYA, July 24 (Bernama) -- The introduction of the Sejahtera MADANI initiative has brought relief to low-income and hardcore poor households, catalysing efforts to improve their standard of living. Launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today, Sejahtera MADANI is a national initiative designed to support low-income and hardcore poor households registered in the National Poverty Data Bank System (eKasih). Coordinated by the Implementation Coordination Unit of the Prime Minister's Department (ICU JPM), the initiative brings together various aid interventions across ministries, agencies, and the private sector to eradicate poverty through a focused and integrated approach. A recipient, Noraini Ramli, 36, from Kuantan, Pahang, said that she received assistance through Sejahtera MADANI to expand her food business. 'I am thankful to the Prime Minister for the Sejahtera MADANI initiative. It will provide me the extra support I need to grow my business,' she told reporters today. Lily Anak Nonong, 43, said the Sejahtera MADANI aid would help support her layered cake business in Sarawak and her family. Another recipient, Nizam Aradin, 49, said he was deeply moved by the government's assistance of RM80,000 to build a new house. 'This is a huge relief for us, as we had previously been living with relatives,' he said, adding that underprivileged communities are now better supported through government initiatives, along with the presence of officials and government MPs who are on the ground delivering aid directly. 'Previously, I didn't receive any assistance because we hadn't been affected. But after my wife was hit by misfortune and life became difficult, help finally reached us. They came forward to assist,' said the Tanjung Karang, Kuala Selangor native.
The Sun
24-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Sejahtera MADANI initiative needs strong follow-up to succeed
PUTRAJAYA: The success of the People's Well-being Initiative (Sejahtera MADANI) hinges on strong follow-through to ensure lasting impact in eradicating urban poverty, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, emphasised that while the initiative is a positive step, it requires sustained efforts to truly benefit those in need. 'As often said, we cannot just give a man a fish — we must give him a fishing rod so that he can catch fish on his own. 'In other words, the programme must be long-term and include joint monitoring by the private sector, government-linked companies, government-linked investment companies and other bodies. This is a good approach,' he said. He spoke to the media after the launch of Sejahtera MADANI by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The initiative, backed by nearly RM120 million in funds, provides not only financial aid but also goods, services, and training. Ahmad Zahid praised the effort, coordinated by the Implementation Coordination Unit of the Prime Minister's Department, as a commendable step in addressing poverty. Sejahtera MADANI targets poor and hardcore poor households registered under the National Poverty Database (eKasih system). It integrates aid from ministries, agencies, and the private sector for a focused, nationwide approach. Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar added that the initiative aligns with the Fifth Core of the Public Service Reform Agenda, which strengthens public-private collaboration. 'The implementation chain of such programmes must continue to be strengthened, in line with the Whole-of-Nation approach that emphasises the spirit of unity and consensus, in accordance with the principle of ihsan, which underpins the MADANI values,' he said. He also thanked strategic partners for their corporate social responsibility efforts in aiding the underprivileged. - Bernama
