Checking status of 4,634 others
Published on: Thursday, August 15, 2024
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On Tuesday, Hajiji announced that Sabah had successfully achieved its target to eliminate hardcore poverty last month.
Kota Kinabalu: Although 22,510 Hardcore Poor Household Heads (KIR) in the Locked Figure (LF) list have been confirmed as no longer since last month, the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Secretariat is monitoring another 4,634 KIRs in the eKasih database.
“The 4,634 KIR figure include new applications registered in the eKasih system, unregistered and status relegated from Poor to Hardcore Poor.
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“This figure will be addressed under Phase Two of Sabah Zero Hardcore Poor Programme,” it said in a statement Wednesday, adding the State Government would announce the new Locked Figure at the end of the year.
On Tuesday, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor announced that Sabah had successfully achieved its target to eliminate hardcore poverty last month.
“Due to the commitment from all, which is in line with the aspirations of the Madani Government and Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya Development Plan 1.0 (2021-2025), I wish to announce we had succeeded in eliminating the hardcore poor in the Locked Figure list on July 31, 2024,” he said.
Speaking when launching a padi cultivation pilot project at Kg Ongkilan in Kota Marudu, he said cooperation from GLCs like Sawit Kinabalu has helped the State Government in this regard.
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He said when GLCs continue to provide job opportunities to our youths it would help the State Government through the SMJ Secretariat and Sabah Development Office to end hardcore poverty.
The Secretariat said the LF means the target of Hardcore Poor was locked on Jan. 31, 2023 and will be eliminated in the Zero Hardcore Poor Programme.
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It said on May 31, 2024, the Prime Minister announced that Sabah will have zero Hardcore Poor KIRs in the LF list comprising 22,510 by the end of July 2024.
“Sabah’s 2022 Poverty Line Income (PGK) for Hardcore Poor is RM1,218 per household and RM288 per capita.
“The calculation of the PGK Hardcore Poor Food is based on the minimum energy/calorie requirements for each household, which takes into account the food pyramid and balanced eating practices set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). This ensures household members can live healthy and active lives in the community.”
On Sept. 13, 2023, the State Government entrusted the Sabah Maju Jaya Secretariat (SMJ Secretariat) to implement intervention assistance to resolve the 22,510 Hardcore Poor KIR locked figure.
“The Secretariat developed 13 additional indicators to coordinate and prioritise assistance intervention within the given time period.
“The Secretariat collaborated with the Sabah Development Office in the Prime Minister’s Department Implementing and Coordinating Unit to conduct fieldwork for profiling, regularisation and assistance matching for the 22,510 KIR.
“The fieldwork was conducted to implement assistance intervention matching for the Hardcore Poor KIR and Household Members (AIR) in accordance with household needs.
“Assistance offered was short, medium and long-term in nature, such as housing assistance under the Rumah Mesra SMJ programme, education programme, job matching with government-linked companies (GLC) and industry players in the State, income improvement and cash assistance to unproductive KIR comprising those who have passed retirement age.
“At the same time, various assistance from the Federal and State Governments, such as monthly subsistence from the Social Services Department, such as Child Assistance, Senior Citizen Assistance, OKU Assistance, Rahmah Cash Contribution (STR) and the Rahmah Basic Contribution (SARA) from the Malaysia Finance Ministry, as well as education and business assistance, have been channelled.
“Nonetheless, due to the large number of household members, averaging six persons per household, monies from the assistance was insufficient to meet the family’s food requirements.
“On July 23, 2024, the State Government, through the State Development Action Council Meeting Bil 2/2024 decided to approve RM2,850,537 as additional assistance for the 1,417 KIR whose status remained as Hardcore Poor as of July 20, 2024,” it said.
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