ISKANDAR PUTERI – The Johor government is hoping to eradicate extreme poverty in the state by 2025, Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said when tabling the state’s 2023 budget today.
Of the RM1.73 billion budget for next year, RM6 million will be allocated for the Iskandar Regional Development Authority to help targeted groups break free from the hardcore poor income bracket through the provision of business instruments and training for household heads to help them increase their income.
Onn told the state assembly that another part of the poverty eradication goal is education assistance for 1,200 asnaf (underprivileged individuals) children from the Johor Islamic Religious Council.
State lawmakers will debate the budget from Sunday to Tuesday before winding up speeches by all the portfolio committee chairmen on Wednesday and Thursday.
The menteri besar will deliver his winding-up speech on the budget on Sunday. – The Vibes, December 1, 2022