Besides motivating the trainees, he said the allowance was increased because the government understood their needs, with most of them coming from various backgrounds.
He said SL1M secretariat head Norashikin Ismail had whispered to him to announce something as a gift for SL1M trainees.
“After looking at the life and background of SL1M trainees, I announce the monthly allowance for trainees be increased to RM2,000 from RM1,500 previously,” he said in his speech when opening the Central Zone-level of the Open Interview for SL1M at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang here today.
The two-day programme is offering more than 15,000 employment opportunities for graduates and job-seekers.
Najib also regarded SL1M as a “key” that would open opportunities for a better life for the young generation.
The prime minister said being diligent, motivated and ambitious alone were not sufficient without the “key” that would normally be provided by the government through its policies.
Basically. he said, every success, whether by the young generation or business tycoons, was linked to policies introduced by the government in providing opportunities for the people to improve their lives.
“Apart from the desire and big potential they possess, the achievements enjoyed by the people and the country are because the government that exists today has placed good foundations for the progress of its people,” Najib said.
Citing the last general election’s manifesto which promised employment opportunities for the young generation, Najib said it had been realised with more than 2.26 million new jobs created by the government since then.
The prime minister said SL1M itself had provided employment opportunities for more than 140,000 graduates since the scheme was introduced in 2011.
Najib also expressed appreciation to government-linked companies (GLCs) and also the private sector for always supporting the various initiatives introduced by the government, especially SL1M.
“These companies have not only increased the marketability of SL1M graduates, but also indirectly helped to empower the country’s human capital,” he said.