IPOH – Towering skyscrapers do not have meaning if there are still people trapped in poverty, struggling to secure basic necessities like food and shelter, said Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah.
His Royal Highness said the commitment to eradicating poverty must remain steadfast, as poverty alleviation is crucial to guaranteeing the social well-being of the people.
“Addressing poverty stands as a central pillar of our government’s Pelan Perak Sejahtera 2030 to ensure the equitable distribution of the state’s wealth for the benefit of all people.
“This includes efforts to enhance overall quality of life, establish robust social safety nets, and provide quality healthcare services,” said Sultan Nazrin when opening the second meeting of the 15th Perak Legislative Assembly here today.
In pursuit of enhancing the state’s prosperity, His Royal Highness said it is vital to recognise the deep connections between healthy relationships and the social determinants of health that profoundly impact people’s overall well-being.
According to the sultan, education is fundamental to promoting good health as it empowers individuals to make informed health choices and contributes significantly to national development.
Education plays a crucial role in reshaping the poverty landscape by lifting people out of the cycle of poverty and improving their quality of life, he added.
His Royal Highness said that while education policy primarily falls under the purview of the federal government, the state government can implement initiatives aimed at ensuring high attendance rates in schools and providing incentives to enhance students’ interest in education.
“We must prioritise the education agenda, particularly for the younger generation, to prevent the perpetuation of poverty and foster upward social mobility within families,” he said.
The sultan said the poverty eradication efforts spearheaded by the state government have brought a glimmer of hope, with the total number of hardcore poverty households reducing by 58% to 3,911 on December 31 last year, from 9,402 households in January the same year.
This decline in extreme poverty, according to His Royal Highness, is due to various factors, including the dedication of district administrations and all relevant agencies.
“Through proactive teamwork involving a variety of stakeholders, including assistance from non-governmental organisations, we aim to ensure that all our people benefit from the progress of the state.
“Our government is dedicated to effectively implementing public housing initiatives, prioritising the fulfilment of citizen’s housing needs over the commercial interests of profit-seeking developers,” he said.
According to Sultan Nazrin, a total of 8,030 affordable housing units were constructed in Perak over five years until last year, with the Perak Housing and Property Board (PHPB) anticipating a demand for 57,407 housing units by 2030.
His Royal Highness said that due to the struggle of many potential house buyers to afford homes because of disparities between their incomes and housing prices, the PHPB introduced the Perak Sejahtera Rental Scheme, offering rental rates 20% below market prices.
“Additionally, the Perak Foundation launched the Sayangi Rumahku programme, providing free new housing assistance as well as repair and enhancement programmes to support underprivileged individuals, while the People’s Housing Programme (PPR) offers interest-free housing loans to eligible beneficiaries,” he said.
Sultan Nazrin said the PHPB has also submitted proposals for the establishment of PPR in various areas, involving the construction of 1,200 housing units for the people of Perak. – February 23, 2024