SIBU: A special task force has been established to eradicate hardcore poverty in Sarawak.
Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said that the task force would collaborate with district officers, longhouse chieftains and village development committees (JKKK) to identify individuals classified in the hardcore poverty category.
“The task force’s establishment aligns with Sarawak’s goal to reduce hardcore poverty by 50 per cent by 2026.
“What we are doing now (financial aid to the poor) is nothing new, but what’s new is that we will identify who are the real hardcore poor in the e-Kasih database. For example, the breadwinner of the family might already not be able to earn income for the family due to various reasons such as old age and chronic sickness. It is this category of people that we want to target to eradicate hardcore poverty,” she told reporters after attending the Wellbest Carnival 2024 closing ceremony at Dataran Tun Tuanku Bujang Phase 2 on Sunday.
The Dalat assemblywoman said that as of May, there are 17,482 names in the e-Kasih database.
However, she pointed out that this figure might not reflect the current number of hardcore poor, as some individuals may have improved their economic situation over time.
“Their names should not be there anymore,” she said.
Once identified, the task force will collaborate with other ministries to determine suitable sources of income for these individuals.
“For example, in agriculture, the relevant ministries can offer training and so on,” she added.
