KOTA KINABALU: The state’s poverty rate dropped from 24.2 per cent in 2004 to 19.7 per cent in 2009, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman disclosed yesterday.
He said the marked decrease in the poverty rate is in the interior areas which recorded a 13.2 per cent reduction from 29.0 per cent in 2004 to 15.8 per cent in 2009.
“Various poverty eradication programs have been implemented by both the state and federal governments among which are the MESEJ projects, Ladang PPRT, Agropolitan, 1Azam, housing assistance and Amanah Saham Bumiputera,” he said after chairing the state’s poverty eradication steering committee meeting at Wisma Innoprise here yesterday.
Currently 29 oil palm and rubber MESEJ, six aquaculture, seven micro-agriculture MESEJ and two integrated MESEJ have been set up in areas in the state where the incidences of hardcore poor are high, Musa disclosed.
“About 2,000 heads of hardcore poor families are involved in these MESEJ projects and the state government is currently considering setting up a Ladang PPRT in Nabawan in addition to the existing ones in Tongod and Kalabakan,
“A total of 1,167 heads of hardcore poor households are now receiving a monthly dividend of RM400 from the Ladang PPRT in Tongod and Kalabakan other than enjoying the employment opportunities and housing facilities in the plantations,” he pointed out.
Musa also disclosed that as of September 5 this year, a total of 1,143 houses out of the 1,400 units slated under the federal government’s housing assistance program in 2012 have been implemented by the respective District Offices, City Hall and municipal councils throughout the state.
Another 600 units are in various stages of implementation bringing the number of houses approved for 2012 to 2,000 units at the cost of RM100 million, he said adding that since the program started in 2010, a total of 7,149 houses have been built by these local authorities.
State government agency Ko-Nelayan has also implemented poverty eradication programs, some through the special fund of RM10.198 million which involved 670 fishermen and the 1Azam program which assisted 489 fishermen in 2010.
The Chief Minister wants all government agencies to ensure that programs as well as development projects are carried out and completed on schedule.
He said this is to ensure that the people will enjoy the benefit of the programs the government has drawn up for their benefit.