Poverty line index to be updated annually

from the Malaysian Star

The government in Malaysia is going some changes to how they release poverty stats. - Kale

By ZULKIFLI ABD RAHMAN

KUALA LUMPUR: The poverty line index (PLI) will be updated annually instead of every five years in view of the changes in the spending habits of consumers affected by the rise in consumer goods prices and inflation.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Amirsham Abd Aziz, who said this in Dewan Negara, explained that the PLI was usually tabulated twice every five years along with the results of the household income survey carried out by the Statistics Department.

Due to the factors brought about by inflation, he said the PLI would now be tabulated annually, in which the 2008 index would be announced early next year.

"The Government is aware of the economic changes brought by the rise in fuel and food prices, which had caused a significant impact to the people, especially the lower-income group," he told Senator Dr Ismail Mohd Salleh.

When asked whether the PLI would also consider the migration of the population from the rural to urban areas in the future, Amirsham said the development or the various economic corridors would help to lessen the financial impact to the migrants by providing them with employment opportunities and economic facilities.

Link to full article. May expire in future.