ALOR SETAR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the Unity Government wants to completely eradicate hardcore poor in the country which he described as disgraceful for a country which is rich in resources such as oil and gas.
The Prime Minister said among the states that still recorded high levels of hardcore poverty are Sarawak, Sabah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah.
“Without exception, we will make sure that this problem of hardcore poverty will be dealt with properly through the Madani Unity Government’s programmes to reduce the number of hardcore poor in the entire country.
“I have asked the entire machinery of the federal government, the machinery of the state government and the machinery of the municipal councils to help in this direction because it is humiliating for a country that has enormous resources such as oil and gas, palm oil and various industries (but) cannot solve the basic problem of hardcore poverty in our country,” he said.
He was speaking to thank the Sultan of Kedah Al-Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah for gracing the Malaysia Madani Open House here yesterday.
Meanwhile, Anwar said Kedah is a state that is given focus by the federal government with more expenditure allocation amounting to RM1.6 billion for this year compared to the previous year.
He said the amount does not include several other measures such as aid for poor schools and clinics as well as several water supply projects in several districts in Kedah.
“Recently when I went to China there was a proposal to expand investment in Kulim Hi-Tech Park.For the information of the people, I assured our full cooperation to speed up the process.
“God willing, with the cooperation of the state government and local authorities, this will be able to drive more meaningful growth in the state of Kedah Darul Aman,” he said.
The Prime Minister added that there are several other applications for Kedah which will be considered and stressed that the government will continue to protect the fate of the people including in the states that are not together in the Unity Government.
Anwar said the government through the recently presented MADANI Budget, has also increased assistance for rice farmers which is the highest recorded compared to the allocation in the previous year.
“The allocations announced in the budget showed that the country has the ability to ensure that all parties agree to manage the country’s economy and bring investments and expenditures focused on the people’s interest.
“That is why the issue in focus in the country is the issue of government management and governance,” he said. – BERNAMA
