IPOH, May 16 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today launched the Paduri Madani Scheme under Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), aimed at empowering women, particularly those in the B40 group, through entrepreneurship.
The initiative, which targets 29,000 new women entrepreneurs, is open to Malaysians aged 18 and above with a monthly household income not exceeding RM5,880 or a per capita income of RM1,470.
In his speech, Anwar expressed pride in the high level of discipline shown by women, particularly in repaying their loans, based on AIM’s strong repayment track record.
“I am proud, we recently celebrated Women’s Day. Who are women? They are our mothers, our wives, daughters and sisters. When we understand this, we realise that there has not been a major programme specifically for women.
“AIM encourages women to prove their ability to borrow and repay loans. Why? Because women are resilient, capable and possess strong values and character. When you take a loan, there is an agreement that must be honoured; this is also a principle in the Quran, and they understand their responsibility,” he said here today.
Also present were Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, Treasury secretary-general Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican, and AIM Board of Trustees chairman Datuk Seri Syed Hussain Syed Junid.
In line with AIM’s objective of lifting families out of poverty, the scheme also accepts applicants who have been blacklisted or declared bankrupt, with no guarantor or collateral required.
The initiative is inclusive, targeting seven key groups, namely Malay, Chinese and Indian women, Bumiputera women from Sabah and Sarawak, Orang Asli, the Siamese community, as well as B40 women in both urban and rural areas.
The scheme offers financing ranging from RM3,000 to RM30,000 under the economic category (i-Paduri Mesra, i-Paduri Srikandi and i-Paduri Muda), and up to RM15,000 under the social category (i-Paduri Wibawa, i-Paduri Sejahtera, i-Paduri Bestari and i-Paduri Penyayang).
