MITI Won't Cut Allocations For MECD Agencies - Mustapa

KOTA BAHARU, April 19 (Bernama) -- International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed today gave an assurance that all allocations for the three agencies previously placed under Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Ministry (MECD) which had been absorbed by his ministry would not be reduced.
He said the agencies -- Bumiputera Trade Industry Community Development, National Entrepreneurship Institute and SME Bank -- would continue their original functions to help the people, particularly the viable and competitive Bumiputeras.
"Budgets for the three agencies remain the same. They were only moved to MITI," he told reporters after chairing the Kelantan State Federal Action Council meeting here.
He was commenting on concerns by certain people that allocations for all MECD agencies which had been absorbed by several ministries would probably be reduced and this would affect programmes which especially assist the Bumiputeras.
Mustapa added that there were no reasons for the ministry trying to alter the budget and functions of the agencies because such a move would affect the strategies already planned.
Meanwhile, Mustapa said he was still listening to briefings by the officers on his new ministry.
"The briefings will end next Saturday and give me a bit of time to settle in and understand the specifics of each issue handled by the ministry," he said.
He did not rule out the possibility of making changes and improvements on the programmes planned by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin when helming the ministry.
"What important is continuity, not that we don't want all old programmes because the good ones we will continue and those which we think need a new approach, we will do some changes," he said.
Mustapa who is also Kelantan State Federal Action Council Chairman said the meeting wth all federal agencies would continue to be held every three months to get the views from the department heads on any issue and enable him to explain government policies to them.

tunku : i think the people should not be worried much with the allocations for MECD agencies.the government will not cut any of the allocations by all the MECD agencies and in fact they will increase the allocations depending on situation.MECD agencies now will be under MITI and Rural and Regional Development Ministry.MITI with its capability and networking will help those agencies to the fullest and more effectively.