JOHOR BARU: Iskandar Regional Development Authority (Irda) is allocating RM25mil for its social development programmes from January this year until the first quarter of 2022.

       Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad said the allocation was to assist those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic including the vulnerable groups.

       “Some 4,500 eligible recipients will benefit directly from the financial allocation with most of the money coming from the Covid-19 Fund,” he said in a statement.

       Hasni, who is also Irda co-chairman, said the RM25mil which came from the Federal Government was allocated to Irda following the success of programmes last year.

       He said among the programmes were the Iskandar Malaysia Employment Grant (IMEG), a grant matching that provided 1,811 job opportunities in 252 companies.

       Hasni said 35% of the jobs were in the services sector while 65% were in the manufacturing sector with 70% of the jobs filled by women.

       “Others who benefitted from the IMEG are people with disabilities, retirees, retrenched workers and unemployed graduates,” he added.

       Hasni said meanwhile, 1,000 youths, women, community leaders and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had benefited from the 29 courses and training which include entrepreneurship, communication skills and online marketing methods.

       He said Irda had spent RM400,000 this year under the Village Enhancement and Empowerment Programme (VEEP) for the traditional villages in the region affected by the pandemic.

       Hasni said three youth activity and business centres were built under the programme with two more new centres which would be set up soon costing RM1.07mil.

       “We are allocating RM500,000 for product marketing and training the villagers and cooperative board members for the business world,’’ he said.

       Hasni said the IM Rent, rent matching grant was mooted to assist the small and medium enterprises benefitting 114 of them while the IM Start Programme offered RM10,000 to 200 individuals to start online businesses.

       Similarly, he said RM576,000 have been disbursed to 141 members from eight community farms under the Iskandar Malaysia Urban Farm (Imufarm).

       “Starting this year, we are focusing on four urban farm pilot projects to produce high yield produce and will create 13 young agropreneurs,” said Hasni.

       He said this was in line with Johor's food safety and security agenda with the indoor farms to be set up at abandoned state-owned shophouses and outdoor integrated farming covering an area of 1.61ha.