New ICT enabled platform aims to improve the quality of life of one (1) million underprivileged rakyat by 2020
KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 2013 – Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) introduced a new development in its Digital Malaysia initiative today with the unveiling of a new platform to facilitate societal uplift and to harness and coordinate greater private sector contribution in term of societal development targeted to the B40 group (the lower 40 percent of the Malaysian population in terms of household income).
Termed Pembangunan Oleh Komuniti Untuk Komuniti (POKOK), the ICT-enabled collaborative platform and its methodology, is a system to match the B40 grass root issues and needs with contributions from Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and private sectors to provide solutions via programmes, products, and services.
The POKOK platform seeks to improve the quality of life of underprivileged Malaysians (the B40 group), beginning in Pahang State. POKOK commenced operations in February 2013, engaging 239 villages in all 11 districts of Pahang State to date. 40,000 individual profiles of village residents have been compiled, with 13,000 physically verified and matched to societal development activities based on their interests and skills.
Comprehensive demographics of all 239 villages have also been compiled, encompassing the spectrum of public facilities available for utilisation such as activity centres. Additionally, trainings are provided in many areas to selected local residents to inform them of local manpower requirements. Micro sourcing or supplementary income opportunities for the B40 group has seen in excess of 600 selected micro workers trained, with 300 of them securing over 1,000 paying tasks ranging from data verification, data entry to identifying local residents serving and supporting POKOK’s Community Advisory Outreach Unit as representatives.
POKOK aims to gradually increase NGOs and private sector collaboration in government programs to uplift society. It is designed to improve efficiency and impacts of vertical programmes through ICT enabled tools and mechanisms, by encouraging the relevant stakeholders and the communities to track the programmes’ performance and funding utilisation enhancing transparency, efficiency and accuracy.
In addition, it will also simulate the programme’s impact from a holistic view while further enhancing its vertical programmes outreach, embracement and value through a network of ICT-enabled communities. This approach has resulted in 6 vertical activities ready for implementation and conducted by the initial 1st wave NGO and private sector participants. The activities include Reading & Spoken English Program, the Child Safety Campaign, Cancer Awareness and Clinical Program and Cycling For The Community. Moving forward, this platform will be the framework that will be applied nationwide.
POKOK was deployed in collaboration with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, as the public sector champion and the Pahang State Government for its implementation in Pahang.
“There are 2.4 million Malaysian households who live on an average of below RM2,300 per month. Categorised as the Malaysian B40s, there is a need to elevate their livelihoods as we move into the digital era and transforming the country into a developed nation by 2020” said Datuk Badlisham Ghazali, CEO of MDeC.
“The digital economy presents many income-generating opportunities. The B40 who are not competent in IT can still benefit from the many IT-enabled platforms such as eCommerce aggregators, and relevant digital platforms which are supported by on-the-ground resources will help bring economic benefits to the non IT-savvy B40 communities. We are enthused to work alongside the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, the Pahang State Government and Cypress Diversified Sdn Bhd to make this aspiration a reality via the POKOK platform” he continued.
Digital Malaysia is the nation’s programme to advance the country towards a developed digital economy by 2020 by creating an ecosystem that promotes the pervasive use of ICT in all aspects of the society, government and economy.
Founded on three strategic thrusts of moving from Supply to Demand focused; from Consumption to Production Centric; and from Low Knowledge-Add to High Knowledge-Add; the move from the programme aims to:
• improve ICT contribution to the nation’s Gross National Income to RM294 billion or 17%, an increase from the current 9.8%;
• create 160,000 high value jobs and an additional RM7,000 digital income per annum for over 350,000 citizens by the year 2020.
To this effect, 25 Digital Malaysia projects will be implemented in stages. The first wave of eight projects was rolled out in July 2012, with the remaining 17 projects to be announced in stages.
FACT SHEET: THE POKOK PLATFORM
Further details of the POKOK platform are as follows:
The POKOK platform is the brainchild of Cypress Diversified Sdn Bhd and was officially commenced in February 2013. The platform will be carried out in five (5) phases which are:
• Mobilisation Phase (February – March 2013)
• Implementation Phase 1 (April – May 2013)
• Implementation Phase 2 (June – July 2013)
• Implementation Phase 3 (August – September 2013)
• Implementation Phase 4 (October – November 2013)
POKOK is a technological platform that will facilitate the implementation of the “Facilitating Societal Upliftment” and “Microsourcing To Generate Income For The B40” projects under Digital Malaysia.
The 2020 targets for these projects respectively are:
Facilitating Societal Upliftment:
- GNI: RM70 million
- 1,400 job opportunities
- RM 72 million of investment
Microsourcing to Generate Income for the B40:
- GNI: RM287 million
- 340,000 job opportunities
- RM413 million of investment
POKOK vertical implementation with NGOs and Private Sector to date:
1. Reading & Spoken English Program
• This project is in partnership with the Pahang State Library where The Asia Foundation has donated its source of English books which will be then used in the programme. The pilot project will be carried in 10 locations with the involvement of 1,000 community members throughout Pahang.
2. Cancer-Free Family Project
• The project is carried out by the National Cancer Society Malaysia with the help of the Pahang State Department of Health in 10 locations, involving 2,000 community members. This project aims to raise awareness and provide information on cancer, conduct clinical tests, as well as help those who will undergo further tests.
3. Child Safety Campaign
• The Malaysian Child Resource Institute (MCRI) in partnership with the Pahang State Department of Education and the Royal Malaysia Police will see the project carried out in 10 locations with 4,000 community members who will spread the message on child safety to primary school children and their caretakers.
4. Connecting Communities Through Cycling
• Kayuh Komuniti in collaboration with the Bera District Council will build a Mountain Bike trail. The project will be implemented by the local community, 500 in total, within the Bera District.
5. Micro sourcing: Temporary Work Activity
• This activity will be implemented by Ikrar Potensi Sdn Bhd which will create jobs and raise the skill levels of those who fall into the B40 group. For now, 1,000 individuals will be able to benefit from this activity.
6. Domestic Home Management Services
• This activity will also be implemented by Ikrar Potensi Sdn Bhd, in partnership with the Pahang State Single Mothers Association to offer job opportunities, 50 individuals in its first phase, as professional domestic workers.
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