KOTA KINABALU – Sabah has achieved its target of eliminating hardcore poverty in the state, and did so on July 31, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor announced today.
“Thanks to the commitment from all parties, I wish to announce we have succeeded in eliminating hardcore poverty in the locked figure list on July 31, 2024,” he said when launching a padi cultivation pilot project in Kg Ongkilan, Kota Marudu.
He said government-linked companies (GLC) such as Sawit Kinabalu have helped the Sabah government in its efforts to eradicate hardcore poverty.
“I hope the GLCs will continue to provide job opportunities to our youth. This will undoubtedly help the state government through the SMJ secretariat and Sabah Development Office endeavour to end hardcore poverty.”
Eradicating hardcore poverty in the state is in line with the goals of the Madani government and the Sabah Maju Jaya Development Plan for 2021-2025, Hajiji also said.
On May 31, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when launching the State Level Kaamatan Festival in Penampang, said that the federal government is aiming to achieve zero-hardcore poverty in Sabah by July this year.
The number of hardcore poor families in Sabah was recorded at 22,510 in 2023.
This figure was reduced to 5,379 as of July 7 through programmes to help households increase their income. – August 13, 2024