KUCHING, Aug 26: A poverty study on rural Samarahan to be undertaken by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) in collaboration with Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS) will start next year with the aim for the findings to be used as a reference for anti-poverty programmes.
MPKS chairman Dato Peter Minos explained that several villages in the rural part of Samarahan had been selected as focal points and bases for the study and survey.
“The study findings will be distributed to all elected representatives of Samarahan for their reference and use in anti-poverty programmes in their respective areas.
“MPKS will also use the study findings to help out in our anti-poverty exercises in Samarahan,” he said in a statement today following a second meeting with Unimas to plan out the details of the study.
Minos emphasised that a detailed and proper study by experts from Unimas’ Faculty of Economics and Business is crucial to understand the fundamental reasons or causes of rural poverty and to come up with action plans and programmes targeted at the issues to be implemented.
He added that the study aims to find out the causes of why poverty persisted despite government efforts since 1963, whether it was due to lack of good education, facilities and utilities and opportunities, deep-rooted attitudes and mindsets or environment and so on.
“Both MPKS and Unimas want to find out why some rural people remain poor, earning low income, and on elements like education, nutrition, housing, etc.
“Issues as to why more and more villagers migrate to urban areas in the last 50 years will be looked into. Is it because villagers want jobs, better income and education for their kids and generally a better life and future in urban areas?” he asked, adding that he will also spend time with Unimas on the in-depth study. — DayakDaily
