AS Malaysia moves forward in the challenging year, where experts have predicted a possible global recession and a resurgent of healthcare concern due to a surge in Covid-19 cases in China, it has become imperative for the government to come up with locally inspired strategies to protect and empower the urban poor and vulnerable.

One area that needs improvement is the way local government functions and how it would be able to meet the needs and aspirations of citizens through engagements and joint solutions with agencies and the community to eradicate poverty.

It is unfortunate that after more than 60 years of Barisan Nasional rule and the shorter span of Pakatan Harapan administration, these coalitions have failed to resolve some of the underlying issues affecting the urban poor, such as housing, public transport and reskilling and upskilling of the group.

For example, in Perak, the Association for Welfare, Community and Dialogue (ACID) undertook the Agency Dialogue and Solution project together with All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia in the Ipoh Barat constituency in 2021.

A survey was conducted in the squatter areas around Buntong Ipoh last January and the findings were presented to Mayor Rumaizi Baharin on April 2 last year.

The mayor gave an assurance that action would be taken, but to date, nothing concrete has been done.

The problems faced by the urban poor are complex, such as occupying local government and corporate land.

These will need the coordinated effort of the local council and state government to ensure that the dwellers are given proper housing alternatives, besides creating an eco-system for the poor to strive in an urban context.

Such coordination is clearly lacking among the state agencies.

The problems need to be addressed if the unity government is serious about eradicating poverty.

There is a need for a bottom-up approach in engaging local communities to play a significant role in combating poverty.

The current system of appointing councillors, who are merely playing a firefighting role related to garbage collection and cleanliness, needs to be reviewed.

ACID urges Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming to reform the system and compel local councils to address issues such as urban poverty.

The significance of the local government machinery will only materialise if there are changes on the ground, particularly alleviating the plight of the urban poor. – January 8, 2023.

* Ronald Benjamin is secretary of the Association for Welfare, Community and Dialogue.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.