Fazzrudin: Research on Sarawak’s poverty level should not be politicised

KUCHING (July 11): Research on the level of poverty currently being conducted in Sarawak should not be politicised, said the chief political secretary to the Premier Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman.

According to him, the research is aimed to obtain accurate data on the state’s poverty rate, enabling the state government to come up with strategies on how to improve the people’s economy.

“That is our main objective and it should not be politicised because we have to strategise. We are not trying to be defensive by denying that there is no poverty in Sarawak.

“The most important thing is figuring out how to break the poverty cycle,” said Fazzrudin when speaking to reporters at Batu Lintang Teacher Education Institute’s ‘Sekolah Pengajar’ programme held at SK Matang here today.

The Tupong assemblyman also said the people should see the whole idea of the research in order to understand what the Premier intends to achieve, which is to improve Sarawak’s economy and boost the livelihoods of the people.

“In boosting the state’s economy, the Premier had implemented many initiatives that have made Sarawak a high-income state.

“The question now is ‘how do we transfer this wealth to the people? A strategy must be in place and accurate data on poverty rate is needed because I believe the poverty data available on the e-Kasih system is not accurate,” he said.

Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, on July 6, announced that the data on the state’s poverty and hardcore poor will be disclosed during the Sarawak Budget 2025 presentation at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting this November.

He said the figures would be obtained from a survey currently being carried out to identify the real situation on the ground.

“We have data under EPU (Economic Planning Unit), which is based on e-Kasih regarding those classified as poor and in need of assistance. However, over the years, they have improved (their income) and increased their assets.

“We need to have precise economic data, and for that reason, we made this survey to find how many people are still defined under the poverty category,” he told the media after chairing the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) supreme council meeting.

Meanwhile, a total of 100 trainee teachers were involved in the programme at SK Matang, including Batu Lintang Teacher Education Institute director Dr Abang Ismail Abang Julhi.

During the programme, trainee teachers from IPG Batu Lintang shared their best teaching and learning practices to the participants, comprising teachers from SK Matang, SK Semariang, SK Catholic English and SK RPR Batu Kawa.