KOTA KINABALU – Two areas in Sabah will be selected as part of a poverty eradication pilot programme under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed today.
Noting Sabah as one of the states with the highest poverty rate in the country, he said the area selection will be part of Malaysia’s efforts to eradicate poverty and reduce the number of poor individuals.
“We are coming up with new approaches to get rid of poverty in Sabah. Malaysia aims to eliminate poverty by 2025, and reduce the number of poor at the same time,” said Mustapa, who is in Sabah for a working visit.
Sabah has a poverty rate of 19.5% – involving 99,869 households – based on the poverty line income.
Five districts in Sabah recorded the highest poverty rates – Tongod (56.6%), Pitas (53.6%), Kota Marudu (46.1%), Beluran (45%), and Telupid (40.7%).
The minister had earlier attended the post-12MP joint management session held at the Sabah International Convention Centre here.
Also present were Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Md Noor and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili.
Mustapa said other villages or areas could be added to the programme later on, as this is just a pilot.
He said the programme will involve the state administration, federal government, government-linked companies, and the private sector – which will come up with new approaches to assist the local population to increase their income.
On another note, Mustapa said the work will involve efforts to improve Sabah’s performance in terms of economic growth and distribution.
“A special state-federal team will be formed to share issues and formulate solutions on how to help develop Sabah.
“We hope to improve this – and if we fail in doing this, it means we also fail to narrow the gap between states.”
Mustapa said efforts will also be intensified to boost economic activities under the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippine East Asean Growth Area, adding that the government will focus on developing border towns in anticipation of the relocation of Indonesia’s capital from Jakarta to Kalimantan. – The Vibes, October 30, 2021
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