THE government wants to eradicate hardcore poverty, involving 195,664 families in the country, by the end of 2025 through the Keluarga Malaysia hardcore poverty eradication programme.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Mustapa Mohamed said through the programme, the hardcore poor families would be given assistance to improve their lives, and their family development would be monitored, especially the children’s education.

He said of the total 195,664 hardcore poor families in the country, the highest number was recorded in Sarawak at 58,611 families, followed by Sabah (31,598), Kelantan (28,553) and Kedah (15,964).

“The hardcore poor are those getting a small income, just enough for them to survive, and we want to eliminate hardcore poverty by the end of 2025, which means at the beginning of 2026 we want to declare that there are no more hardcore poor families in Malaysia.

“We want the aid to be effective so that they can get out of hardcore poverty. This programme is not only gauged in terms of income, we also want a change of mindset such as making sure their children go to school,” he told a press conference today.

Earlier, Mustapa held a meeting with Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor and visited Kg Penimbawan, which is among the 10 localities selected for the implementation of phase 1 of the poverty eradication programme in the state.

Other localities are Kg Penangah in Tongod, Kg Bongkol (Pitas), Kg Sembirai (Kota Belud), Kg Tandek (Kota Marudu), Kg Pelakat (Sipitang), Kg Binsulok (Beaufort), Kg Tetabuan (Beluran), Kg Kaingaran (Ranau);and Kg Lima (Nabawan).

The minister said a total of 80 localities in the country, each with 50 families, have been identified for implementation of phase 1 of the programme. – Bernama, April 30, 2022.