PN focuses on issues affecting the urban poor - Azmin

SHAH ALAM - Perikatan Nasional (PN) will focus on the urban poor concerns in order to defend their fate.

Chairman of PN Selangor, Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, said one of PN's offers was a RM500 million micro-credit scheme to enable small entrepreneurs and traders tp capitalise on growing their enterprises.

"This group is ineligible for bank loans, and even if they are, the interest rates are high."

"They have no assets to use as collateral for RM10,000 to RM50,000 interest-free loans."

"With the scheme offered, they can pay at a minimum rate each month in order to use capital to enlarge their stalls, premises, which includes purchasing new equipment for cooking and kitchens, and increasing productivity so that income can be enhanced for their families," he explained.

Azmin said this at the Sinar Live ‘Langkah Selangor Baharu’ programme which was broadcasted on all Sinar Harian platforms on Tuesday.

He also stated that many of PN's initiatives for the people of Selangor are new.

“Therefore, I stress that PN offers covers various sectors. Firstly, we aim to develop Selangor as a Super Smart State. Selangor cannot remain stagnant; this is our principle.

"Secondly, we want to develop Selangor with a sustainable economy, this is a big deal in terms of the industry’s future," he stated.

Commenting on the 7 essential pillars, 25 approaches, and 112 deals for the people of Selangor, he stated that the PN did not want the Selangor trading industry and port to rely on foreign labor.

"If this continues, the country's productivity will fall, and young people will suffer."

"What we have to offer today is that we want to develop a high-tech, innovative, young industry in Selangor that can focus on innovation, their skills, and the opportunity to get high-quality and skilled jobs," says Azmin.

He said when he was the Selangor Menteri Besar, he had emphasised on the importance of the state government attracting foreign investors to come to Selangor.

"Although I was not in Selangor last year (2022) when I was in the International Ministry and Industry (MITI), I was able to bring Amazon web services into Selangor with a $25 billion investment over 15 years.

"I am not a chief minister, but I recognize that Selangor's children must continue to have access to quality jobs, so I created this opportunity by introducing quality investors," he said.

According to the PN Hulu Kelang candidate, PN was also committed to empowering women through a new incentive in which women in the state of Selangor are highly qualified, professionals with a strong career, but their potential is hampered because they have to quit their employment due to their commitments as a wife.

"They cannot afford to send their children to childcare centers because our education system begins at the age of seven."

"When they want to send their children to private kindergartens for early education, the cost is high."

"As a result, PN has committed to building 20 childcare centers per year, with a goal of constructing 100 childcare centers in five years, with modern and sophisticated facilities that include services for disabled children and professional educators," he said.

According to Azmin, the services are offered free of charge, and women in Selangor can continue to work to expand their potential, contributing to the development of the state while their children are safely guarded by the state government.