KOTA SAMARAHAN: The Sarawak government is to conduct an independent study to measure the poverty rate in the state which is expected to be completed within this year.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the Sarawak Economic Planning Unit (EPU) team of economists and experts would conduct the survey and once the data is obtained, a policy would be formulated to eradicate poverty.
“Indeed there are still hardcore poor, it is also important to consider the fixed assets one owns when measuring poverty.
“In Sarawak, Alhamdulillah, many of our people have assets such as land but they are being categorised as poor.
“For instance, an individual has the land but maybe lacks knowledge to monetise the asset.
“Therefore, the survey must be right to see whether the area or the community is poor or not,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after visiting the Stakan Constituency Hari Raya open house hosted by its assemblyman Datuk Hamzah Brahim at the Stakan Constituency Service Centre yesterday (Apr 29).
Abang Johari was responding to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s earlier remarks that the unity government wants to eradicate hardcore poor in the country and Sarawak was among those states which still recorded high levels of hardcore poverty.
Abang Johari said there was a report saying that Pakan district is the poorest district in the country, however looking at the situation, the people of Pakan could buy cars and this was because of good produce from their land and favorable market price of pepper.
“As such, I have discussed with the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli that we must carry out a holistic study on this matter.
“If the people are categorised as poor, they will be listed in the e-kasih. However, if they have assets, they must be excluded from e-kasih,” he said.
In order to measure poverty, he said, a study that is impartial and professional has to be done.
“The study will give us a view on what we should do in that type of situation. If not, the people would say Sarawak is a rich state but the people are poor, but this is a wrong methodology,” he said.
Abang Johari further said there will be enumerators going to the ground to gather the data.
“They have to be on the ground and cannot depend on (available) statistics alone but to find out the one’s actual income and standard of living,” he said.
