CM: SMJ Secretariat tasked to reduce Sabah’s poverty rate
TUARAN: The Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Secretariat has been given the responsibility to reduce the poverty rate, especially involving the hardcore poverty in the state, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said under the SMJ Secretariat, various efforts and initiatives were carried out including providing 1,500 houses for those unable to own a home, providing business capital assistance, and providing job opportunities for the state’s children.
“The state government has instructed every governmentlinked company (GLC) as well as new investors coming to Sabah, that they must provide job opportunities for those listed in the eKasih system,” he told reporters after the Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) Sulaman division buka puasa event at the Bajau Sama Cultural Centre, Lok Batik here on Saturday night.
Hajiji, who is also the Gagasan Rakyat president, said this when commenting on the statement by Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli on Thursday in the Dewan Rakyat that hardcore poverty in Sabah stands at a rate of 1.2 per cent in contrast to the national rate of 0.2 per cent.
He said the Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2022 report showed that eight Sabah districts had a higher rate than the national rate, with Tongod the highest at 5.9%
This was followed by Beluran (5%), Pitas (4.8%), Kinabatangan (4.6%), Kota Marudu (4%), Tuaran (2.6%), as well as Ranau and Lahad Datu at 2.4%.
Hajiji said Sabah’s hardcore poverty rate is not the same as the statistics shared by Rafizi.
He said the data obtained by the Sabah government is somewhat different to the data reported by Rafizi last week.
“But in any case, this is a fight that must be prioritised by the state government,” he said.
He said that the state was trying its best to lower the number of hardcore poor, especially in eight Sabah districts deemed as the most poverty stricken.
Rafizi’s disclosure on the rate also drew responses from other political leaders in Sabah.
Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) information chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said the Sabah government has consistently pursued efforts to reduce and ultimately eradicate poverty in the state.
He said under the GRS-PH plus government, a comprehensive master plan has been mapped out to improve the wellbeing of the people.
Beluran Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Dr Roland Kiandee said the issue of poverty in Sabah demands the responsibility of all parties, especially the government, to devise the best strategy in getting the community out of the poverty trap.
Parti Solidariti Tanahairku Vice President Datuk Kenny Chua reiterated that Sabah will overcome hardcore poverty when it is no longer being shortchanged in its partnership with Malaya.
He pointed put that Sabah is still owed the 40 per cent of net revenue derived by the federal government. Our 10 per cent export on petroleum duty has never been paid. And our 10 per cent import duty on petroleum products has also not been paid fully but replaced with some other form of small payment since 2007.
He said this is the root cause of hardcore poverty in Sabah.