BANGI: The Ministry of Rural and Regional Development, through Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), has announced support initiatives for borrowers and tenants affected by recent floods, offering them an opportunity to reschedule their loan payments. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed that MARA is prepared to assist, although no applications for rescheduling have been received yet.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid, who also serves as the Rural and Regional Development Minister, assured that once applications are submitted, MARA will review them and engage with applicants to adjust payment schedules. This initiative aims to alleviate financial burdens on flood-affected individuals and businesses occupying MARA premises, with each case being assessed individually to prevent losses due to the natural disaster.

In a related development, Ahmad Zahid, also the chairman of the National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council Committee, announced plans to offer educational opportunities for individuals who did not take the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination. The government is set to collaborate with the Education Ministry to identify candidates interested in pursuing TVET courses, addressing the educational gap for more than 10,160 individuals who did not sit for the SPM in 2023, with similar projections for 2024.

The initiative allows applications for the 1,398 TVET institutions nationwide through the UP_TVET platform, enabling individuals to choose courses and institutions that align with their interests. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek indicated that as of January 2, the attendance rate for the SPM 2024 examinations had reached 97 percent, with the ministry continuing to update the attendance data for around 10,000 candidates.