THE State Government has mandated government-related agencies and state-linked companies (GLCs), as well as foreign investors coming to the State to prioritise the poor in the e-Kasih list for clerical and lower-level job placements.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the State Government has allocated RM175 million in support for government agencies, GLCs and investor companies to implement this approach.
He said this allocation is part of the RM300 million provided by the State Government in its efforts to eradicate hardcore poverty in Sabah this year.
He added that this approach is among the State Government’s efforts to ensure that Sabahans are assisted in order for them to enjoy a better quality of life.
“We have agreed to assist the poorest people on the e-Kasih list because we want to reduce the number of those classified as hardcore poor.
The State Government has allocated RM300 million specifically for those in this hardcore poor category. Out of this RM300 million, we are constructing 1,300 free houses under the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Rumah Mesra Programme involving an allocation of RM125 million.
“The remaining RM175 million would be used to help hardcore poor youths secure employment in government agencies, GLCs and companies that invest in Sabah.
“We have decided to mandate the hiring of clerical and lower-level positions from this hardcore poor group,” said Hajiji when launching the Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) Kuamut Division in Tongod on Sept 23.
The Chief Minister said that cooperation and support from all parties are necessary to address the issue of poverty in Sabah and ensure that the State is removed from the list of the poorest states.
“If we can unite and work together, I believe Sabah, which is currently at the bottom of the list, within three to five years, would be placed third or fourth in the whole country,” he said.
Hajiji said the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Government, under his leadership, has already proven its ability to bring about change in the State based on the increase in trade value, which reached RM118.1 billion last year, as compared to about RM87.2 billion the previous year.
Sabah is currently listed as the State with the highest number of poor people, with three of its districts - Tongod, Pitas, and Kota Marudu - identified as the poorest districts in the country.
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