EPU data disproves Ranau poorest claim – Masidi

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PENAMPANG: Karanaan assemblyman Karanaan assemblyman Datuk Masidi Manjun was curious as to where State Reform Party (STAR) Ranau division head Jalibin Paidi obtained the information that Ranau could be the poorest district in Sabah.

This is because, based on the latest economic data released by EPU, the poorest district in Sabah as at March this year was still Kota Marudu with 2,007 hardcore poor families, he said.

Kota Marudu is followed by Kudat (1,661 families), Semporna (1,613), Pitas (1,329), Kota Belud (1,269) and Nabawan (1,160) , he said, adding that the figures however keep changing because the e-Kasih registration is open ended.

“So unless STAR or Jalibin has conducted a new research or they have a new economist in town that knows better and has a new figure, I will respond to him.

“I don’t want to waste my time responding to somebody who obviously doesn’t know what he is talking about,” he added.

Masidi, who was met after officiating at the ‘Hari Ekspo Lestari 2012’ at SMK Datuk Peter Mojuntin yesterday, was asked to comment on Jalibin’s invitation to visit some of the poorest kampungs in Ranau if he wants evidence that Ranau could be the poorest district in Sabah.

Jalibin also alleged that Ranau was a district surrounded by poverty-stricken districts and it could be the poorest district in Sabah.

To Jalibin’s invitation, Masidi said, “Thank you but I have been to all these villages long before he opened his mouth; even before I was elected assemblyman in 2004, I had been to these villages. So it is nothing new.

Ranau, per ratio to population, produces the highest number of graduates every year, he pointed out, adding, “and I don’t think that the poorest district could produce the highest number of graduates every year. It is simple arithmetic,” he said.