SME news listing Announcements

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is hopeful farmers may be able to advance their produce to the next stage and get involved in the processed food industry to increase their income. – The Malaysian Insider pic, May 23, 2015.The 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) focuses on increasing the people's income to enable Malaysia to achieve the status of high income nation by 2020, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.

He said under the five-year development plan, the government also aimed at increasing the per capita income of the bottom 40% group from RM2,500 per month to RM5,000 per month by 2020.

"Those in the bottom 40% group are said to be earning not quite high income, but also not so low to the extent of being poor, just a little insufficient to improve their standard of living and to get what they need to move forward.

Also present were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, and Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

Muhyiddin said under the 11MP, the government was also committed to enhance the people's skills and expertise to help them earn extra income.

"For example, if they used to be a normal farmer, but with new knowledge and skills, they can increase the value of their crops and agro products.

"If they used to sell raw agro products, now they can sell it in the form of processed food, such as from fresh banana to smoked banana," he said.

As such, the deputy prime minister said the people must work with the government to ensure success of the 11MP and not to fall for the lies spread by the opposition, which merely aimed at hampering all the government's efforts to develop the country. – Bernama, May 23, 2015.