PUTRAJAYA: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has given her assurance that the new Pakatan Harapan government will retain the National Permata Programme (Permata) for gifted children.
However, she said, the programme will first be audited and reviewed before any further decisions are made.
“The Permata programme is one of the things which I had brought to the attention of the prime minister, that we need to have it audited.
“Because Permata is one of the good programmes (under Barisan Nasional) closely tied to children’s development, so what is good we will continue,” she told a press conference after clocking in for her first day in office at Perdana Putra.
Dr Wan Azizah, who is also the Women and Family Development Minister, said they will audit and review what has been done by the programme, its funding as well as its cost-effectiveness.
Dr Wan Azizah said she had also discussed with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad about moving the programme, which is currently under the Prime Minister’s Office, to her ministry (Women), as it seemed
more suitable and relevant.
Permata is the brainchild of Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak.