Zero Hardcore Poverty in Malaysia by 2025

Since its implementation in April this year, the Malaysian government remains confident in its goals of achieving zero hardcore poverty by December 2025. Through the Economic Planning Unit, the Keluarga Malaysia Hardcore Poverty Eradication Programme (BMTKM) was implemented to coordinate strategies and programmes to sustainably raise the income levels of the hardcore poor.

In a previous press release, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob explained the new movement would take place with a Poverty Unit, under the Economic Planning Unit, in order to coordinate policy matters on poverty alleviation on a national level. 

“Generally, the hardcore poor are those getting small income, just enough for them to survive, and we want to eliminate hardcore poverty by the end of 2025, which means at the beginning of 2026, we want to declare that there are no more hardcore poor families in Malaysia.” – Datuk Seri Mustapha, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy). 

With the government working hand-in-hand with state governments, civil society organizations, and the private sector, the programme is estimated to aid a total of 195,664 hardcore poor families with cash assistance and family development monitoring. 

“There were 166,000 hardcore poor families in the country, compared to 251,089 registered in February, that are in accordance with the Income Poverty Guidelines 2019, and whilst that number is declining, it is important for us to provide a comfortable living standard.”- Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.

Out of the total of 195,664 hardcore poor families that were registered prior to the programme’s implementation, the highest population was recorded in Sarawak (58,611 families), followed by Sabah (31,598), Kelantan (28,553) and Kedah (15,964).

Mustapa had held a meeting with Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor earlier this year, in order to visit the 10 localities selected for the implementation of Phase 1 of BMTKM in the state. These included Kampung Penangah in Tongod, Kampung Bongkol (Pitas), Kampung Sembirai (Kota Belud), Kampung Tandek (Kota Marudu), Kampung Pelakat (Sipitang), Kampung Binsulok (Beaufort), Kampung Tetabuan (Beluran), Kampung Kaingaran (Ranau) and Kampung Lima (Nabawan).

According to Mustapa, 80 localities in the country, each with 50 families, had been identified for the implementation of Phase 1 of BMTKM. He said the implementation of Phase 1 involved 10 localities in Sabah and 10 in Sarawak, with the remaining localities in Peninsular Malaysia.

“This year, two more phases are implemented, so there are three phases, involving a total of 240 localities,” he added.

During a recent programme, The Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) guided the Orang Asli Lata Kinjang Berhad (OALKB) in raising the capabilities of the Orang Asli community at Lata Kinjang as a pioneering project in poverty reduction. Plans for development have been put into motion in order to use its potential as a well-known picnic and jungle trekking location, as means of income for the Orang Asli.

References:

1. Bernama. (2022). Govt optimistic about achieving zero hardcore poverty by 2025 – Mustapa. Bernama. Link
2. Bernama. (2022). Govt wants to eradicate hardcore poverty by end-2025, says Mustapa. The Edge Markets. Link. 
3. Azman. N. H. (2021). Government committed to eliminate hardcore poverty by 2025. The Malaysian Reserve. Link.