Masing questions findings on poorest districts in Malaysia

0

Dr James Masing

KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing is questioning the methodology used by the federal Rural and Regional Ministry to present their findings on the 28 poorest districts in Malaysia.

Thirteen districts in Sarawak were among the 28 named.

Masing, who is an anthropologist by training, said he was no stranger to various mechanisms of research and findings, as not all are perfect and some are refutable.

He said he was also quite surprised to learn about the findings by the Rural and Regional Ministry stating 13 districts in Sarawak were the poorest in Malaysia,.

The issue has attracted the attention of the relevant authorities and that of Pakan assemblyman Tan Sri William Mawan, who questioned the motive of the findings as Pakan district was mentioned as the poorest in Malaysia by virtue of household income statistics.

Masing, who is also Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president said: “As a person who has done substantial research I can’t comment on the accuracy of their findings till I know who were the respondents, how many were involved and what were the questions asked.”

“Till I have these information, I can’t testify whether the findings truly reflect the situation in the 10 districts.”.

Masing said his anthropological research for his PhD thesis titled ‘The Coming of the Gods’, for instance, was done thoroughly and systematically.

The thesis tells how Iban religion affected their mindsets and cultural behaviour. He finished his PhD in 1982 at the Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.

Masing also said his research on Batang Ai and Bakun HEP and acceptance of these developments contributed to their existence  and continuity.

According to the findings, Pakan is the poorest district in the country with an income per capita of RM2,760. Among the other districts in the list from Sarawak are Lubok Antu, Song, Kanowit, Selangau, Simunjan and Daro.

Economic analyst Assoc Prof Madeline Berma has also stated that based on these findings, she suggested that the Sarawak government develop new sources of economic growth to create more job opportunities besides diversifying the source of income for its rural populace.