He said that through the NTP the Gross National Income increased by nearly 50% and Malaysia has almost eradicated poverty, reducing it to just 0.6%.
“We have kept inflation and unemployment low, and have been acclaimed by global institutions such as the World Bank and the IMF (International Monetary Fund) for the reforms we have undertaken.
“We are firmly on the path to become a high-income nation. In short, we have an economic plan. That plan is working, we have delivered, and we will continue to deliver,” Najib said during his keynote address at the 2017 Global Transformation Forum (GTF), at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, here today.
Najib said that through the NTP, no Malaysian gets left behind, the needs of all people are met, and all communities are able to contribute to and share in the wealth of the country.
He said to help those affected by the rising costs of living, and to stimulate economic activity in the consumer market, 1Malaysia People’s Aid was introduced in 2012 and provided targeted relief to 7.28 million households earning less than RM3,000 a month last year.
Additionally, he said, the government has planned 1.1 million affordable and low-cost homes for middle and low-income households, including housing for civil servants and the new generation of Felda settlers, and 21% of the project has been completed and another 22% are currently under construction.
“One of the reasons why the NTP has been so successful, and why we have been able to introduce programmes such as BR1M and various targeted housing plans, is because we have maintained a strong focus on two areas: human capital, and connectivity,” he said.
Najib also listed a few programmes under NTP, such as the new innovation centres, increasing of graduate employability, boosting of female participation in the workforce; and supporting of women’s place in the boardroom and leadership positions.
Also present at GTF 2017 that was organised by the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu), were Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Pemandu chief executive officer Idris Jala and Chief Secretary to the Government Ali Hamsa.
Meanwhile, the success stories of two individuals, Zul Izzamin and Chik Azmily Che Abdul Aziz, who benefited from the NTP that was launched in 2010, received special mention from Najib during his keynote address.
He said that under the NTP’s Small Retailer Transformation Programme (TUKAR), Zul Izzamin, who inherited a sundry shop from his late father in Johor, was selected to improve the living standards of low-income households.
Najib said Zul took a TUKAR programme and implemented expert advice from TUKAR mentors.
“He took a RM25,000 loan offered under the progamme and renovated his shop. Since then he said ‘our shop income increased by 100-200%’. A wonderful example of the NTP in action,” he said.
The other success story is that of a Kelantanese, Chik Azmily, and his wife, who are involved in the 1AZAM (Poverty Eradication Programme) initiative, which provided him with agricultural equipment, seeds, fertilisers and herbicides.
He said Chik Azmily started growing short-term seasonal cash crops such as cucumber and watermelons and sold them to wholesalers.
“His wife was provided with sewing machines to kick-start her tailoring work, and she managed to secure a deal with a batik factory to tailor batik shirts.
“Within a couple of years, they had gone from earning RM500 a month to RM5,000 a month. Isn’t that remarkable?” he added.
Najib also shared the success stories of Idris who comes from a small community, the Kelabit in the rural area of Sarawak, which consists of only 5,000 people, and who once became a cabinet minister.
“We are so proud. Despite representing a very tiny community, he made it to become a cabinet minister. That is also another transformation story,” he said.