We will engage with lawmakers in poor states, including opposition: economy minister

KUALA LUMPUR – The Economy Ministry will engage with relevant stakeholders, especially opposition lawmakers in poor states, to identify low-income families and pair them with the appropriate government programmes and assistance. 

Its minister, Rafizi Ramli said it was important to gauge lawmakers in states such as Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, and Sabah, where there are high populations of those in poverty, or B40 households. 

Stressing that the matter should not be politicised, Rafizi said it was a pragmatic approach to ensure that the right people received the appropriate help. 

Rafizi explained that the ministry would first begin by meeting government officials, district officers as well as lawmakers from the 20 poorest districts in the country, in the next few weeks. 

This includes places such as Pitas, Kota Marudu, Kudat, Kota Belud, Jeli, Kuala Kerai, Pasir Mas, Besut, Marang, Ulu Terengganu, and Dungun, to name a few. 

“I hope the matter is not politicised and I am inviting all lawmakers from the opposition because many of these places in Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and Perlis…are represented by opposition lawmakers. 

“We will hold discussions with them so that they will participate in identifying poor families and convince them to participate in (government) initiatives.  

“This is the next step as we process applications under this initiative,’’ he told a press  conference after announcing the Consumer Price Index for January 2023 earlier today. 

Rafizi referred to his ministry’s giant push to eradicate poverty by giving poor families the proverbial fishing rod under the “Initiatif Pendapatan Rakyat” (People’s Income Initiative) or IPR. 

IPR aims to provide a space for people to grow crops, produce marketable products and pair them with willing buyers. 

This includes the introduction of vending machines for packed foods produced by IPR participants. 

IPR has been allocated RM750 million under the maiden budget announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last month. 

Since taking office in his new portfolio, Rafizi has maintained that the country requires a much more elastic demand-and-supply ecosystem as a price control mechanism, adding that all stakeholders must play their part. 

Among others, Rafizi is tasked with addressing inflation and the rising cost of living, as well as raw materials. – The Vibes, March 6, 2023