KUCHING: Only 15 to 20 per cent of 1Azam participants have been able to turn their life around.

However, director of Bumiputera Entrepreneur Development Unit in the Chief Minister’s Office, Kameri Affandi, said the government was not disheartened and would continue to motivate and help those who had yet to succeed in the programmes they were pursuing.

“We realise that it may be difficult in the beginning but we need to have a positive attitude in doing things in order to excel,” he told reporters at a simple ceremony to present certificate and equipment to the participants of 1Azam Service: Sewing Programme here yesterday.

Affandi reminded the 1Azam participants that the unit would be keeping track and assessing their performances from time to time.

“It is part of our KPI (key performance index). We will visit participants to see how they are doing from time to time.”

“At the same time, we will see if further assistance is needed for those who have made minor improvements or are lacking in certain aspects.”

Conceding that there might be participants who would abuse the privileges which were given to them at no cost, for instance selling off machine and equipment, Affandi advised the participants not to take for granted the resources and opportunity provided to them.

Thus far, he said, no action had been taken nor any equipment taken back.

“Our aim is to help and serve the needy and poor by giving them opportunities.

“We will continue to advice, encourage and motivate the participants, especially those who have been inactive, to not give up in making things work for them one way or another.”

Affandi said a total of 440 participants had benefitted from the 1Azam programme under his Development Unit.

“One of them being tailoring and others include small cottage industry like bakery as well as grass cutting and nipah sugar.”

As for the whole state, Affandi said more than 7,000 people had benefitted this year from 1Azam programme carried out by various government departments and agencies.

The 1Azam programme aims to assist families from the lower income group as well as those registered in e-Kasih to create a sustainable income and in turn improve their standard of living.

Each participant in the 1Azam programme under the Bumiputera Entrepreneur Development Unit was provided a fund of RM9,000, which include training, equipment, machine as well as transportation and assessment costs incurred.

Forty-five participants from eight districts, including Lundu, Betong, Asajaya and Sri Aman completed the six-day tailoring training.