Self-Empowerment of Recipients of Assistance from the Malaysian Social Welfare Department through Productive Welfare

Norzalinda Ali Mohd Ali Hanafiah,Zakiyah Jamaluddin

doi:10.47405/aswj.v6i3.169

Norzalinda Ali Mohd Ali Hanafiah, Zakiyah Jamaluddin

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.47405/aswj.v6i3.169

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Abstract

The Productive Welfare Approach and the "2-Year Exit Policy" (2YEP) are introduced by the Department of Social Welfare Malaysia (JKM) to help recipients of welfare assistance (clients) towards living independently and provide the ability to survive without relying on indefinite assistance. This study aims to identify the empowerment of recipients after being involved in entrepreneurship programs through the Launching Grant provided by JKM. This study employs the survey method using questionnaires. A total of 234 respondents were involved in the study: 107 respondents from the Northern Zone, and a total of 127 respondents from the Eastern Zone from 17 Social Welfare District Offices (PKMD) in both zones. The data collection was done between September 2016 to February 2017. The results show that the majority of respondents are self-employed/sole proprietors (85%) with many involved in the food and beverage-type business (58.1%). In terms of self-enrichment/empowerment, respondents' levels are at moderate to high levels. They are responsible for the work, for what they do, and for the results of their actions. The Productive Welfare Approach and the 2YEP program have to some extent, helped in increasing revenue and reducing clients’ dependency on JKM’s assistance. However, better implementation of the program and continuous monitoring can help clients increase their motivation and thus, contribute to eradicating poverty among receivers of assistance.

Highlights

The poverty rate in Malaysia has been successfully reduced significantly from 52.4% in 1970 to 3.8% in 2009
In the Tenth Malaysia Plan (10thMP) 2010–2015, the poverty rate was projected to decrease to 2% and the average income for the lowest 40% of households increased from RM1,440 in 2009 to RM2,300 in 2015 (Tenth Malaysia Plan, 2010)
The results show that the level of self-empowerment of GP recipients is at a moderate to a high level because the empowerment factor is the determinant of the success of a business ventured by entrepreneurs

Summary

Introduction

The poverty rate in Malaysia has been successfully reduced significantly from 52.4% in 1970 to 3.8% in 2009. In 2014, the poverty rate decreased to 0.6% and further to 0.4% in 2016 (Department of Statistics Malaysia, 2017). The poverty status criteria are based on household per capita income that falls below the Poverty Line Income (PGK) 2007 which is RM830 in Peninsular Malaysia, RM1,090 in Sabah, and RM920 in Sarawak (Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, 2015). Those who are eligible to register and be included in eKasih are households with an income of less than RM1,000 per month in rural areas and RM1,500 in urban areas (Kedah Social Welfare Department, 2015).

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