RM140m more to address poverty eradication in Sabah: DPM

from The Daily Express

Tawau: DATUK Seri Najib said RM140 million will be given to Sabah to implement poverty eradication programmes and projects during the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) period.

The amount is in addition to the RM156.8 million under the People's Welfare Development Scheme managed by the Rural and Regional Development Ministry.

"(Hence) we want to thank Felda for agreeing to channel a special allocation of RM50 million to Sabah last year," he said at the launching of Community Resettlement Programme (PPMS) at Kampung Sabah Baru, here, Monday.

Of the amount, he said RM25m would be used to implement various poverty eradication programmes while the remainder would given directly to the State Government.

Najib said the Federal Government has allocated Sabah RM156.8 million for the People Prosperity Development Scheme and another RM140 million for poverty eradication programmes and projects under 9MP.

"Felda has given a special allocation of RM50 million to Sabah last year. Of the RM50 million, RM25 million will be channeled to the Sabah Federal Development Department for poverty eradication programmes like in Kampung Sabah Baru and the remaining RM25 million will be handed to the Sabah government," he added.

Najib said the special allocation will also be given this year but the amount depended on Felda's profit in Sabah.

He added the Government has no plan to extend the Felda fund to help the poor in other states as Sabah has higher poverty rate than the others.

Najib said people listed in the hardcore poor in the district deserve to benefit from the programme first because Felda started its operations in Sabah in the district.

In this respect, he called on everyone, including Federal Government officers at State and district levels including people in the locality to cooperate in order to ensure the success of the poverty eradication programme.

"Let us play our respective roles and make serious efforts to ensure the Government's objective to eradicate poverty in Sabah would be realised before the 9MP period is over in 2010," he said.

Najib also said some 600 units of one-storey, three room terrace houses costing RM21,000 would be provided free for the really hardcore poor in Silam under the Community Resettlement Programme.

He said the PPMS is one the Federal Government's noble effort to wipe out hardcore poverty in Sabah.

"The PPMS is very special because it involves four entities namely Federal Government, State Government, Felda and Federal Department," he said.

The resettlement programme in Lahad Datu is the first being developed outside a Felda area using special funds from Felda.

He said the Federal Government has allocated huge funds of RM4.4 billion towards eradication of poverty in Malaysia.

The Government is aiming to eliminate hardcore poverty and reduce the rate of poverty by 2010.

Based on the 2004 data, generally poverty in Sabah is 23 per cent compared with the national average of 5.7 per cent while hardcore poverty is 6.5 per cent compared to national average of 1.2 per cent.