[Malaysia] Seven States wallowing in poverty, says UN rep

From The New Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 27:

Malaysians in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Penang enjoy living standards similar to those of developed countries, but people in Kelantan and Sabah face a level of poverty more associated with the poorest African countries, a UN official said here today.
Many in Kelantan and Sabah, along with Terengganu, Sarawak, Kedah, Perlis and Perak, still have to make do with sub-standard education and health services.

This sobering fact was revealed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in a dialogue with MPs at the Dewan Rakyat on Malaysia’s progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

UNDP resident representative for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Dr Richard Leete said the Government had to focus its efforts on improving living standards in these seven States and ensuring they are not left out of the mainstream of development.

Some of the reasons for the destitution, Leete said, are geographical remoteness and the huge amount of resources needed to develop those areas.

"The Government must target its policies more effectively in these States, as they recorded poverty levels well above five per cent in 2002," Leete said in a presentation to Barisan Nasional and Opposition MPs.

Present were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, Backbenchers Club chairman Datuk Shahrir Samad and House Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang.

Leete also said Malaysia would gain an additional one million workers in the labour force if it developed better maternity benefits.

"Malaysian women are highly educated but they drop out of the workforce once they get pregnant. This is an extraordinary waste of talent," he said.