Selangor mulls reviewing poverty threshold income level

SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government proposes to review the poverty threshold income level and raise it from the present RM1,500 to RM1,980 per month in keeping with the current economic challenges, said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.

He said a study conducted by Universiti Selangor and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman recommended that the new poverty threshold income level in Selangor be set at 60 per cent of the Selangor median household income, which was RM3,300.

“The new poverty threshold income level is, however, only a proposal of the state government.

“We can opt and choose to retain the current level, RM1,500, which was reviewed in 2009, but looking into the current economic situation and new challenges, I strongly believe the state should review it,” he told reporters after launching the roundtable discussion for the 2017 state budget here yesterday.

Mohamed Azmin said, however, that the state government would have to study the implications of the federal government contribution to the state should the new level be implemented.

He said the state government would have to hold discussions with the federal government on the latter’s contribution to the state based on the proposed level.

He also said that the state government would have to diversify its sources of revenue and not depend only on land revenue. — Bernama