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KUANTAN: Pahang has succeeded in eradicating hardcore poverty in line with the government's aspirations, says Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail (pic).
He said 1,946 household heads who were recorded as being in the hardcore poverty group have increased their income and exited the category.
However, he noted that hardcore poverty was very subjective and could change in the future, adding that the state government would continue to monitor the situation.
"When we had data showing the number of people in the hardcore poverty group, we asked the state development office to monitor and see what we could do to help them," he told reporters when asked to comment on the hardcore poverty rate in Pahang on Wednesday (May 29).
He said this after presenting donations to 99 individuals, comprising Orang Asli and Sekolah Menengah Agama Negeri Pahang students who achieved excellent results in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination.
Wan Rosdy had previously stated that 4,968 people were recorded as being hardcore poor on 3 January 2023, and this number dropped to 1,946 people on Dec 31 the same year.
He elaborated that this achievement was also the result of efforts by various parties, including initiatives by the Federal and state governments.
"For example, in Pahang, the state government channels aid such as the Pahang Prihatin Aid, the I-PUSH scheme (micro-entrepreneur financing), Pahang people's housing aid, and health cards, which are seen as contributors to lifting them out of the vicious cycle of poverty," he said.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had previously stated that the Unity Government intended to eradicate hardcore poverty in the country.
Touching on the performance of the Pahang Maahad Tahfiz, which created history by emerging as the top school based on the SPM results released on Monday (May 27), Wan Rosdy said it was a result of the efforts put in by various parties, especially the students and the quality teachers. - Bernama
