KUALA LUMPUR: The plan to put a fullstop on hardcore poverty faced by an estimated 130,000 households is expected to be done within this year, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister told the Dewan Rakyat that as of March 15, a total of 123,243 heads of households have been identified as hardcore poor under the e-Kasih database.
"Although the official figures stood at 123,243, I will increase it slightly to 130,000, as based on the current trend there will be new numbers being added throughout this year.
"I am confident that a total of 130,000 households can be fully assisted within this year, God-willing," he said in reply to a question from Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias (BN-Jelebu) during Prime Minister's Question Time.
Jalaluddin wanted to know the approach taken by the unity government to eradicate poverty effectively in order to build a "Madani" nation.
Anwar said that the government had taken several measures including to introduce the Peoples Income Initiative (IPR) and the Rahmah Cash Aid (STR) programme, which is expected to assist more than 400,000 individuals categorised under the vulnerable groups.
"The total of the incentive assistance subsidy for the whole framework has reached RM64bil," added Anwar, adding that this includes the various Rahmah initiatives.
He revealed that a total of RM750mil was allocated for the IPR programme, noting that a total of 22,000 people have registered for the aid.
Anwar said that the second phase of the STR programme was slated to be rolled out by the middle of Ramadan, on April 5.
"As of March 28, there are an additional 574,886 new applications received for STR.
"So, I believe that the next phase will be implemented around August or October this year and we will give the latest development on it then," he said.
"This means that our huge assistance will reach those in need directly and this will help us address the issue of hardcore poor," added Anwar.
