PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has declared that extreme poverty in Selangor has effectively been eradicated, crediting a series of targeted and impactful poverty alleviation initiatives, while cautioning that continued oversight is essential to prevent any households from being left behind.
Anwar, who also serves as the nation’s Finance Minister, said the achievement was reported to him during the Petaling District Development Meeting, which he chaired earlier in Shah Alam.
Despite the milestone, he stressed that efforts must not relent, particularly in ensuring that vulnerable families are supported to become self-sufficient.
"More importantly, every family must be given the opportunity to rise, be empowered through training, and in turn be capable of generating their own income.
"The strength of Selangor’s economy must be fully utilised to uplift the dignity and living standards of the people," he said in a Facebook post.
At the same time, Anwar called for the expansion of the SejaTi MADANI programme’s success in Petaling, especially in addressing urban poverty.
He pointed to community-driven initiatives such as sewing programmes in Kampung Melayu Subang, stingless bee honey production in Bayu Damansara, and furniture manufacturing in Bukit Lanchong as evidence that with the right support, communities can achieve meaningful change, generating incomes ranging from RM24,000 to RM100,000.
"God willing, with the commitment of all parties, we will continue striving to resolve outstanding challenges, strengthen existing capacities, and ensure that the benefits of development are truly felt by the people," he said.
The meeting, which lasted over an hour, also reviewed progress on urgent public projects and explored solutions to ongoing issues, including road maintenance and flood mitigation efforts.
Anwar said discussions further covered urban and social management concerns, including matters related to places of worship, waste management, and pig farming.
"All these require a more structured and effective approach to ensure the continued well-being of the people. I also stressed the need for immediate action to reduce the hardships faced by the public while awaiting the completion of long-term flood mitigation projects," he said.
Also in attendance were Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, alongside state executive councillors and senior district officials. - April 30, 2026
