Learn how China reduced poverty rate drastically — Merotai rep

KOTA KINABALU: Merotai assemblyman Sarifuddin Hata urged the Sabah state government to learn how China reduced the rate of people living below the poverty line from 750 million to only 90 million in less than 30 years.

Speaking at the debate session of the State Assembly sitting on Tuesday, Sarifuddin said poverty eradication cannot be dealt with subsidies and aid. Instead, it should be done by increasing productivity.

“The implementation of programmes in several countries such as China is very important for us to set an example. In 1990, a total of 750 million Chinese people lived below the poverty line. It equals to two-third of the total population.

“Interestingly, in 2012 there was a very drastic decrease when only 90 million people in the country were below the poverty line. This sudden change in less than 30 years is very interesting to refine and scrutinise so that it becomes an example for us.

“The Chinese government uses an economic and social approach to address the issue of poverty. However, there are three interesting strategies for us to refine,” he said.

Firstly, Sarifuddin said the Agricultural Development Programme (1956-1967) which was implemented become the basic catalyst for strengthening China’s agricultural sector that directly has a positive impact in helping the community, especially the farmers.

Secondly, China was very committed to strengthening its Social Economic Protection Policy. Since the 1950s, China continues to be committed to strengthening its education system by making it compulsory for its people to obtain education. In fact, China is also planning an Education Modernisation Plan China by 2035, which targets Education Sector Development Quality.

Third, China emphasises good social governance, transparency and trust. This strategy is focused on local level management by targeting poor villages.

“The time has come, we learn and implement what programmes have been implemented by China. We have a lot of land which is fertile and enough for us to hold poverty eradication programmes.

“However, these efforts must be preceded by providing basic infrastructure facilities such as road network, water and electricity supply.

“If this basic infrastructure cannot be prepared, we will face difficulties to make the poverty eradication programme successful,” he said.