“I AM QUITE SCEPTICAL OF THE EPU’S FIGURE. IT (SARAWAK’S HARDCORE POVERTY RATE) CANNOT BE LESS THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. I THINK IT IS HIGHER,”

Sarawak disputes poverty rate of 2%

KUCHING: Sarawak has disputed its hardcore poverty rate of 2% given by the federal authorities –the state thinks it should be higher.

 The figure, which is below the national average, was provided by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) during a dialogue on the 10th Malaysia Plan here last week, said State Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Human Resources and Training) Datin Fatimah Abdullah.

Fatimah said the EPU’s figure could adversely affect Sarawak’s request for more federal funding to eradicate hardcore poverty.

“I am quite sceptical of the EPU’s figure. It (Sarawak’s hardcore poverty rate) cannot be less than the national average. I think it is higher,” she told reporters when asked during her visit to the Sarawak Family Planning Association here yesterday.

The Federal Government has set this year as its target to totally eradicate hardcore poverty in the country.

Fatimah said the poverty rate figures provided by the Education Department, Welfare Department and other agencies always differed.

She believed that the national poverty survey had not covered inaccessible settlements in the interior of the state.

There are more than 5,000 longhouses and villages in rural Sarawak.

Fatimah hoped that the survey could be extended to the settlements unreachable by road to get an accurate picture.

She also voiced her concern over urban poverty and the plight of rural migrants.

“Because of their lack of education and skills, their incomes are low. Compounded by the high cost of living in towns, these rural migrants have become part of the urban poor,” she added.