Comprehensive Solutions Needed To Free Sabah From Extreme Poverty – Experts

In Sabah, extreme poverty is not just a statistic but a harsh reality that many of its people are forced to endure and accept, whether in remote rural areas or within the concrete jungle of the city.

Various efforts and initiatives have been implemented by both the state and federal governments to lift this group out of poverty, but they have yet to yield the desired results.

Experts said a new and innovative approach is needed to address the issue, along with strengthening the cooperation between the state government and the Federal government, particularly at the implementation agency level.

The approach taken must also consider the differences between the urban and rural extreme poor, as each group has distinct needs.

 COLLABORATION

According to Associate Professor Dr Syahruddin Awang Ahmad, based on the Household Income Survey (HIS) report from 2022, the extreme poverty rate in Sabah remains high at 1.2 per cent, compared to the national rate of 0.2 per cent.

As such, he said one of the first actions that should be taken by the authorities is to improve efficiency in data collection, as well as to update information on the poor and extremely poor population to ensure more accurate planning.

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“The relevant agencies have the expertise and resources that can complement each other to achieve the government's goal of eradicating the scourge of extreme poverty," said the Deputy Dean (Research and Innovation) of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, in an interview with Bernama.

Describing the relationship between state and federal government agencies as like ‘the bamboo and the riverbank’ (a Malay proverb indicating interdependence), Syahruddin said collaboration between the government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Sabah should be strengthened and expanded to explore new opportunities that can help the extremely poor change their circumstances.

Citing the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector as a way to assist these groups, he pointed out that many industries within this sector remain untapped, such as the production of raw materials for animal feed and supplies for pets, ornamental fish and exotic cats.

“New job opportunities, such as village tour guides, craft entrepreneurs based on demand, and local history spokespersons, also need to be created to provide opportunities for the extremely poor," he said.

However, he acknowledged that community support, particularly from the extremely poor themselves, for government programmes has been somewhat lukewarm.

He stressed that if this group does not fully utilise the initiatives implemented by the government, these efforts will not achieve the intended goals.

“Religious and moral education should also be integrated as part of the strategy. Minds enriched with religious and moral knowledge are more receptive to information from government agencies," he added, emphasising that awareness and motivation campaigns are also crucial, especially among the younger generation.

ACHIEVE OPTIMAL IMPACT

Senior lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Associate Professor Dr Romzi Ationg, believes that various parties, particularly the government, have planned and implemented numerous programmes to address the issue of extreme poverty.

"However, it is clear that these efforts are still not enough," said Romzi.

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He also emphasised the need for strong cooperation from the authorities with all parties, along with more decisive and active measures to overcome the long-standing issue of extreme poverty in the Land Below the Wind.

This problem, he explained, is not only prevalent in rural areas but is also rapidly emerging in urban areas, thus necessitating different intervention strategies.

“There cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach; the strategies must be specific. We should avoid implementing a solution that fits all," he said.

He hopes that the authorities will focus on targeted efforts in areas inhabited by the extremely poor, by providing job opportunities and encouraging lifestyle changes.

“Sufficient funding and strict monitoring are also crucial to ensure the effectiveness of these efforts," he added.

Dr Romzi also urged the government to introduce more effective programmes and projects, noting that all parties, including the extremely poor themselves, need to be involved in the management to ensure these programmes have an optimal impact.

“There is still much to be done, and although the journey is long, change can certainly be achieved with the commitment and cooperation of all parties," he said.

SPECIFIC STRATEGIES

Former Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal expressed deep concern over the issue of poverty, including extreme poverty, noting that eight out of the ten poorest districts in Malaysia are located in Sabah.

He pointed out that many families struggle with incomes far below the poverty line.

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According to him, Sabah needs sustainable and immediate solutions not only to boost the economy but also to ensure social justice is upheld.

He said the lives of marginalised groups must be improved, and this requires strategies based on accurate and realistic data.

“The problem is that the way we collect data on extreme poverty in Sabah sometimes does not reflect the true reality. It’s not uncommon here for several families to share one roof due to financial hardship. Therefore, representing a household by one head of the family may not provide an accurate picture," he said.

The President of Parti Warisan also said that the definition of extreme poverty in Sabah should differ from that in Peninsular Malaysia.

“Income in Sabah often depends on the weather, especially for those involved in agriculture and fishing. When the weather is bad, fishermen cannot go out to sea, and farmers find it difficult to harvest crops when there is insufficient rain," he said.

Financial aid of several thousand ringgit is not a long-term solution; instead, it only perpetuates dependency without addressing the root causes of poverty. Such an approach is akin to covering a wound with a plaster without treating the underlying cause of the wound itself, he added.

Mohd Shafie also stressed that unemployment and the high cost of living exacerbate the situation. Sabah has the highest unemployment rate in the country, reaching 8.71 per cent.

“With the cost of living reaching levels comparable to major cities, but wages still remaining low, the people of Sabah continue to be saddled with the daily life’s hurdles,” he said.

He also emphasised that those implementing initiatives to eradicate extreme poverty need to be more flexible and open to new information, as informed decisions can only be made when the actual situation is fully understood.

“To achieve this, go to the ground and see the conditions for yourself," he added.

RURAL AREAS

Meanwhile, Sabah's Minister of Rural Development, Datuk Jahid Jahim, said his ministry remains committed to fostering the wellbeing of the people, particularly in rural and remote areas.

This year, he and his ministry are determined to focus on development programmes that can effectively combat poverty, especially extreme poverty in these areas.

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“The ministry aims to strengthen existing programmes and introduce new initiatives that can generate income for rural communities. We want to ensure that the people there do not remain trapped in the cycle of poverty, especially extreme poverty," he said.

According to him, under the Sabah Maju Jaya roadmap, the ministry will intensify the Rumah Mesra Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) programme, which aims to provide comfortable and safe housing for rural residents, improving their living conditions in terms of housing.

The state government has also approved allocations to build 20 SMJ houses each year in 73 state constituencies in Sabah.

“This is a step to ensure more rural people have access to decent housing," he said.

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Additionally, the Ministry of Rural Development Sabah (KPLBS) continues to strengthen poverty eradication programmes such as the Mini Estet Sejahtera (MESEJ) programme and rural entrepreneurship training programmes.

KPLBS is also working to develop more facilities for small enterprises in villages, including areas such as rural tourism, arts and culture, and traditional craft and food products, all of which have significant potential for development.

Driving Sabah towards digital transformation is also a crucial aspect of this effort. Towards this end, the state government is accelerating the development of communication infrastructure in rural areas, which includes introducing digital training and skill programmes for residents of these villages.

 According to Jahid, the ministry is also developing two dashboards: the eKPLBS Dashboard and the Project Monitoring Dashboard, to enhance their effectiveness in serving those in need. The eKPLBS Dashboard provides the latest information on core activities within each department of the ministry, while the Project Monitoring Dashboard allows management to track the status of projects across various districts.

 “The Sabah government is committed to realising the concept of a smart digital government. Through information technology and digitalisation platforms, we aim to ensure that government services are accessible to everyone, anywhere, at any time, and through any mobile device,” he said.

 “With plans already in place and actions underway, efforts to eliminate the 'colonisers' of extreme poverty from Sabah must continue to be intensified in a firm and comprehensive manner,” he added.

Translated by Salbiah Said

The extreme poverty that entraps a significant portion of the population in Sabah requires comprehensive solutions so that they too can benefit from the progress Malaysia has achieved thus far.

The second article in this three-part report explores the best ways and approaches to ‘liberate’ the people of the Land Below the Wind from the "colonisation" of extreme poverty.