KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 (Bernama) -- The government is focusing on states and regions with a higher percentage of hardcore poverty than the national average, such as Sabah, Kelantan, Sarawak, and Kedah, in an effort to eradicate hardcore poverty nationwide.
Deputy Minister of Economy Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib said the government is ensuring the involvement of more target groups in the hardcore poverty eradication programmes implemented by various ministries and agencies across the country.
“The government remains committed to eradicating hardcore poverty regardless of race and region or state, in line with the inclusive development goal to ensure no one is left behind or marginalised from the current socioeconomic development,” she said during a question and answer session at the Dewan Rakyat today.
She was responding to a question from Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas), who asked the Ministry of Economy to state the next states targeted by the government to achieve zero hardcore poverty and its action plan.
Regarding the action plan, Hanifah Hajar said priority will be given to strengthening infrastructure provision, optimising economic potential, improving access to social services, enhancing inclusive development, and strengthening cooperation between federal agencies and state governments.
“This is to increase access and growth opportunities, which in turn can boost job opportunities, entrepreneurship, and living standards," she said.
Additionally, she mentioned that the government has allocated substantial funds to implement various poverty alleviation programmes through different ministries and agencies, including entrepreneurship programmes, human capital development, and other income-boosting initiatives for heads of households (KIR) in the hardcore poor category.
“For example, the government implements several income generation programmes such as the People's Income Initiative (IPR) under the Ministry of Economy, the Urban Community Economic Empowerment Programme (PEKB) under the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), and Usahawan Kasih MADANI under the Implementation Coordination Unit, Prime Minister's Department (ICU JPM),” she said.
She added that the focus will also be on household members as a strategy to help families break free from the cycle of poverty and reduce the issue of generational poverty.
“Among other initiatives, they are provided with on-the-job training and appropriate skills training to ensure their abilities meet current market needs.
“For example, the government runs a job matching programme in collaboration with the Social Security Organisation (Socso) to ensure that the target group of hardcore poor secure employment and break free from the shackles of poverty,” she said.
-- BERNAMA
