By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, March 5: Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts (MTCP), Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, has called for a reassessment of how a state’s poverty status is determined, highlighting concerns over the existing measurement methods.
Commenting on Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli’s statement that the allocation for the six poorest states—Sabah, Sarawak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and Perlis—is significantly higher than for other states, Abdul Karim highlighted that poverty measurements can vary.
“There are many ways to measure whether a state is poor or not. Previously, the eKasih system was used, and in Sarawak, many people registered under it.
“If someone is a farmer or a fisherman without a fixed salary—even if they earn RM10,000 a month—they are still considered poor,” he said when met by the media at a breaking of fast ceremony with the Kuching Narcotics Addiction Rehabilitation Centre (PUSPEN) on Jalan Puncak Borneo in Siburan yesterday (March 4).
For the record, eKasih is Malaysia’s national poverty database that identifies and tracks low-income households to ensure targeted government assistance.
Abdul Karim, who is also Sarawak Minister for Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development (MYSED), emphasised the need to refine these measurement criteria to ensure accuracy.
Nevertheless, he welcomed the allocation given to Sarawak, acknowledging that while the State is financially strong, additional federal funding remains beneficial.
“If Rafizi’s ministry is providing substantial allocations to Sarawak, we appreciate it. Even though we are a wealthy state with significant funds, they are still willing to give. That is good.
“However, the method of measuring whether a state is poor should be reviewed,” he added.
It was reported that Rafizi stated the six poorest states—Sabah, Sarawak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and Perlis—must strive to narrow the poverty gap with other states, rather than merely expecting continued high allocations from the central government.
He highlighted that the six states have, in fact, received significantly higher allocations than other states since 2021.
The Economy Minister further expressed hope that closing the gap would not rest solely on the federal government, emphasising that state governments must also take responsibility. — DayakDaily
