Elimination of poverty may be achieved by 2010

from New Straits Times

The government is hopeful that poverty can be eliminated by 2010, Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said today.

"We intend to fasttrack the narrowing of the poverty gap among the different income groups in the country before the year 2020,” he told a press conference after opening the Pusat Bina Insan Al Minsar in Jelutong.

“This can be achieved through the inculcation of knowledge economy to all Malaysians through the channel of Information Communications Technology.”

He said the quest to eliminate poverty started 50 years ago with the reduction of the poverty rate from 50 per cent of the population to six per cent now.

Nor Mohamed said the Pintar project launched under the Finance Ministry will be expanded to all States starting from the new school semester next year.

The project provides tuition classes, individual mentor programmes and other facilities to students from low-income families.

A total of 42 primary and secondary schools in the State were adopted by 17 government-linked companies, including Media Prima Berhad, under the project.

Seven more schools in Seberang Prai and three GLCs will join the project soon.

Yesterday, Nor Mohamed attended a dinner hosted by the Penang Malays Badminton Association in conjunction with its 58th anniversary. A total of RM230,000 was raised as donation for the association during the function which was attended by Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Dr Abdul Rahman Abbas and his wife Toh Puan Majimor Shariff.