Replying to a question from Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail (BN-Pantai Manis) at the State Legislative Assembly sitting, in Kota Kinabalu, Monday, he said that of the total, 26,719 KIR were categorised as Hardcore Poor (MT), Poor (M) (20,933) and Vulnerable Poor (MM) (5,278).
Radin said various poverty eradication programmes were being carried out in Sabah either by the state or federal government including the 1Azam program, Housing Aid Programme (PBR), Agricultural Prosperity Mini Estate Program (Mesej), Aquaculture Mesej, Integrated Mesej, Hardcore Poor Eradication (PPRT) Estate and Agropolitan Projects.
He said that most of the poverty eradication programmes had holistic objectives namely to raise the income of the people in a sustainable manner and at the same time raising the quality of life of the target groups.
Radin said the performance and achievements of the main programmes to eradicate poverty were monitored periodically which was every three months through the State-level Steering Committee on the People’s Prosperity Development Scheme and Poverty Eradication chaired by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman himself.
“Through the programmes mentioned earlier, the Sabah poverty rate as announced by the Economic Planning Unit, Prime Minister’s Department early last year, for the first time dropped to a single digit or 8.1 per cent, compared with 19.7 per cent in the year 2009.
–BERNAMA
