Hardcore poor down to 22,510: 20 Rumah Mesra in every constituency
Published on: Saturday, April 20, 2024
By: Larry Ralon
Juhar said the hardcore poverty eradication programme will be implemented in phases, which are short, medium and long-term programmes covering five main cores for the purpose of aid matching or interventions appropriate to the hardcore poor, namely employment, entrepreneurship, housing, education and welfare. - Pic for illustration only.
Kota Kinabalu: THE State Government is committed and currently implementing hardcore poverty eradication programmes with the cooperation of all district offices, local authorities (PBTs) as well as government-linked companies (GLCs) and industry players, said Juhar.
This is in addition to implementing various existing poverty alleviation programmes, he added.
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“The State Government is indeed committed to eradicating poverty, especially the hardcore poor in Sabah.
“For Sabah, the locked figure of hardcore poor heads of households (KIRs) registered in the eKasih system in September 2023 was 22,510 people.
“Alhamdulillah, as of March 2024, a total of 13,179 hardcore poor KIRs were reported, which is a decrease of 42pc as a result of hardcore poor KIR data cross-check, aid matching or intervention, placement in State statutory bodies, PBTs and GLCs as well as collaboration with industry players in Sabah,” he said while delivering the government’s policy speech when opening the fifth term of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) here.
Juhar said the hardcore poverty eradication programme will be implemented in phases, which are short, medium and long-term programmes covering five main cores for the purpose of aid matching or interventions appropriate to the hardcore poor, namely employment, entrepreneurship, housing, education and welfare.
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Through the short-term strategy that focuses on providing job opportunities, he said initiatives such as MySMJ: Profiling, MySMJ Work: PBT, MySMJ Work: DO, MySMJ Work: GLC and MySMJ Work: Industry are implemented with the aim of helping the hardcore poor to earn fixed income or enjoy increased incomes through the provision of employment opportunities.
“Various initiatives/assistance to hardcore poor KIRs and household members (AIRs) have also been identified through the implementation of profiling to match assistance.”
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Juhar said the implementation of the Rumah Mesra Sabah Maju Jaya Programme continues to be intensified to ensure people in the rural areas immediately enjoy comfortable and safe accommodation which will directly help improve their standard of living.
This year, it is targeted that 20 housing units will be built in each State constituency (DUN).
“At the same time, the State Government will implement new skill training programmes such as PVC cord-based basket weaving courses, basic cultivation courses, oyster mushroom care and marketing courses and Labuk basic weaving courses.
“Through these skills training, the target group will be able to generate income and then become independent entrepreneurs.
“Indeed, the State Government is very concerned with the increase in the high costs of living at this time. Accordingly, the State Government has approved funds to provide a “Talent Pool” for the development of Sabah through providing scholarships for young people of Sabah.
A total of 6,488 students attending various courses at public higher education institutions (IPTAs) and private higher education institutions (IPTS) in and outside the country have benefited from this fund,” he added.
He said the State Government’s efforts to help reduce the financial burden of the poor and B40 also continued with the implementation of educational assistance programmes such as IPT Registration Cash Assistance (Budi), Computer Assistance (Baik), Special Examination Cash Assistance (Bakti), Sabah School Assistance (Bisbah) and Sabah Education Programme Special Assistance (Bantu).
“The State Government will also intensify efforts and continue the implementation of various initiatives for the wellbeing of the people to further improve the quality of life and socioeconomics of various levels of society, including through the development of new towns.
“A total of four new towns will be established in the period 2023-2024, namely Kalabakan New Township, Tongod New Township, Merotai New Township, Tawau and Sungai Melayu Sebatik New Township, Tawau.
In addition, three more new towns will be established after this, namely Pagalungan New Township, Sukau New Township and Paginatan New Township, Ranau.”
Juhar said the State Government will implement five housing projects under the Affordable Housing Programme, which will provide 644 housing units, in Kota Kinabalu and Beaufort.
“Under the Public Housing Project, a total of four projects will be implemented this year involving 175 units of terrace houses in Sukau, Beluran, Pitas and Melalap, in addition to the construction of 50 units of semi-detached houses (Phase 3) in Kemabong.”
The Head of State also said the quality of the PBT delivery system will continue to be strengthened to improve the people’s quality of life, adding this includes efforts to upgrade district councils, empower human capital, empower the provision of infrastructure and public facilities, solid waste management, public cleanliness, landscape development and cultivating the service delivery system through digitization as well as speeding up the management of public complaints.
“To improve the ability to plan sustainable and systematic land use development, the implementation of the study and preparation of Local Plans under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) will continue this year.
“A total of six Local Plan Preparation Studies are underway, namely the Sri Tanjong Local Plan Review, Lahad Datu Local Plan Review, Keningau Local Plan Review, Kudat Review, Tenom Review and Kota Belud Review which are expected to be fully completed in 2025, ” he said.
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