Government Announces Initiative to Support Entrepreneurship and Digital Training for Youths
GEORGE TOWN: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced an initial allocation of RM250,000 to support entrepreneurship and digital training for youths under the Penang Muslim League.
Aim to Bridge the Digital Divide
The allocation aims to ensure that all opportunities provided by the government are fully utilised, bridging the digital divide between the wealthy elite and the general public.
Coordination with Ministries and Departments
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said the funds could be coordinated with relevant ministries and departments to offer early training and exposure to the target group.
“I have approved RM250,000 as a basic starting point, which I believe can be used to strengthen efforts focusing on entrepreneurship training.
“I also urge the Muslim League to continue playing an active role in education, culture, history and entrepreneurship, especially in the current digital era,” he said at the 70th anniversary dinner of the Penang Muslim League held at the Setia SPICE Convention Centre in Bayan Lepas, near here yesterday.
Shaping Future Experts
Meanwhile, Anwar called on Malaysian youths to sharpen their skills and gain exposure in entrepreneurship, engineering, digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure the nation has sufficient experts in line with Penang’s status as a leading semiconductor hub in the region.
“We have emerged as an important player and are considered one of the most significant semiconductor hubs in the region. Investments are flowing in, so we need our people, including your members, young members, and children to be involved in this activity.
“It is to make sure that we have adequate training exposure in this new field such as engineering, digital, AI to make sure that we fully utilise these facilities and the new opportunities,” he said.
Indian Muslim Community’s Bumiputera Status Application
On the Indian Muslim community’s application for Bumiputera status for those born in Malaysia, Anwar said the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN) and its minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail would review and manage the matter.
“Whether one qualifies or not, they have to observe the normal process. It is an individual application, it’s not a time frame. It depends on the individual application. It is not group or association, individual,” he told reporters after the event.
Earlier, Malaysian Muslim League president Datuk Seri Najmudeen Kader urged the government to address the issue following several complaints from the Indian Muslim community.
Conclusion
As a nation, we need to ensure that we are developing our future experts in relevant fields to harness the growth opportunities in key industries like semiconductor manufacturing. This allocation is a crucial step towards bridging the digital divide and empowering the youth of Penang with the necessary skills to participate fully in the economy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the allocation for entrepreneurship and digital training for youths?
The allocation is RM250,000 to support entrepreneurship and digital training for youths under the Penang Muslim League.
What are the objectives of this initiative?
The objectives are to bridge the digital divide and empower youths with the necessary skills to participate fully in the economy, particularly in key industries like semiconductor manufacturing.
Who is responsible for managing the allocation?
The Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with relevant ministries and departments, will be responsible for managing the allocation and providing early training and exposure to the target group.
Will individual applications for Bumiputera status be processed?
Yes, the Ministry of Home Affairs and its minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail will review and manage individual applications for Bumiputera status, regardless of whether one qualifies or not. It is an individual application and not a time frame dependent process.