KOTA BARU – The Statistics Department (DOSM) is conducting a nationwide survey of household income and expenditure, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.
He said the completed survey is expected to be the country’s new benchmark for poverty and income levels for the B40, M40 and T20 income groups.
He said the exercise has been carried out every two to three years, adding that the current data is based on a survey that was conducted in 2019.
“Income fluctuates, especially during the Covid-19 period, it is not fair for all surveys to be made during the period,” he told reporters after attending a socio-economic briefing for Kelantan media personnel here last night.
He said as the country is in the transition to endemicity, the people have started working again and income is increasing.
“We want the income to truly reflect the current situation,” he added.
Mustapa said this latest survey was aimed at revising the hardcore poverty rate in the country.
“In the middle of last year, Malaysia’s hardcore poor were 262,000 families, in February this year the number was 210,000, while on April 15 the number declined to 195,664,” he said. – Bernama, May 15, 2022
